Obama inspires black Republicans to switch parties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama isn't just inspiring black voters to register in large numbers as he gets closer to being the Democratic presidential nominee. Evidence indicates that he's motivating some black Republicans to switch parties.

The only three states that track voting registration by party and race show black Republican registration dropping slightly since the beginning of the year.

Florida has 81,512 more black Democrats compared to a loss of 784 black Republicans; Louisiana has 34,325 more black Democrats, while the number of black Republicans dropped by 907; North Carolina has 92,356 more black Democrats and 2,850 fewer black Republicans.

While the number of blacks who have left the GOP for the Democratic Party can't be pinpointed, it's not hard to find voters who have made the switch.

"That's happening in a lot of places," said Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland political scientist who tracks racial trends.

In Florida, it's happening at a time when the state Republican Party has made black voter recruitment a priority - one that is more difficult with Obama's success.