Black voters look to leverage their loyalty
In this Nov. 14, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama gestures as he answers a question during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. When black voters served up 93 percent support for Obama in defiance of predictions that they might sit out the election, black leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief. That freed them to try to leverage a greater share of attention from both Obama and Congress. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
WASHINGTON - The 93 percent support black voters gave President Barack Obama on Election Day has encouraged black leaders to try to leverage more attention from Obama and Congress.
Black leaders are delivering postelection wish lists to the president even though they waver on how much to demand from Obama in light of defeated GOP challenger Mitt Romney's assertions that Obama got minorities' votes by granting "gifts."
The Rev. Al Sharpton said the collective message at a White House meeting last week was for the administration to keep the brunt of the looming "fiscal cliff" crisis off the backs of the middle class and working class.
Blacks made up 13 percent of the electorate this year, about the same as in 2008.
SUZANNE GAMBOA
The Associated Press
