ABSTRACT
On November 2, 2004, the state of Illinois once again made political history by sending the second of two most recent African Americans to the United States Senate. The African American vote for African American Republican candidates in the South Side of Chicago has been a minuscule vote because this electorate has been aligned with the Democratic Party since 1934. Hence, winning the vote of African American Democrats nearly ensures victory at least at the ward, precinct, state, legislative and senatorial and some congressional districts levels. All that Barack Obama needed in these state senate electoral contests was a good turnout to win. Former Senator Moseley-Braun was an announced candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for president. She made the announcement shortly after New York civil rights activist Al Sharpton had announced that he was running for the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Despite these unique contextual features surrounding this senatorial primary which would attract numerous candidates.
