FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
These days politics is all about voting blocs – you know African-Americans, Latinos, women. But there's one group that might not be getting as much attention as it deserves: white men.
These guys often go unnoticed, even though they could play a big role in deciding both the Democratic nominee and the next president.
Working-class white men make up almost one-quarter of all voters. That's more than blacks and Hispanics combined. The group is usually defined as those without a college degree, including union members and those with service and technical jobs. They typically make less than $50,000 a year. And, they make up huge chunks of the electorate in key states like Ohio, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
The Wall Street Journal reports that when it comes to the Democratic race, some of these white men are finding it hard to identify with either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. In interviews, some said because Obama is black, they will cross over and vote Republican. Others say the country isn't ready for a woman president yet.
One Ohio political strategist points out that for a lot of blue-collar men over 40, "Hillary Clinton is a poster child for everything about the women's movement they don't like – their wife going back to work, their daughters rebelling, the rise of women in the workplace."
So stay tuned for the general election, where blue-collar white men could be the key group of swing voters – either backing the Democrat's nominee or putting their support behind John McCain, whose war record and straight-talk could appeal to many of them.
Here’s my question to you: Is the importance of white male voters being overlooked in this election cycle?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Heritage from Maryland writes:
Yes, I believe the white male vote is critical in this election cycle. White males have the biggest choice of all, particularly in the Democratic primary. None of the Democratic candidates are exactly like them and they have to make a decision. It's difficult. But, as an African American woman, I have been making that type of decision since I have been old enough to vote.
Chris from Birmingham, Alabama writes:
I'm a white male redneck from Birmingham, Alabama who a few weeks ago went to a Catholic church to nominate a black man to be a candidate for president, the first Democrat I had voted for since my 18th birthday when I voted for Michael Dukakis. There's a window for opportunity at hand for significant changes here in the U.S. and Obama will make history for being the right candidate at the exact right moment.
Adam writes:
As a 35-year-old white male, I am ready for a change and will not vote Republican regardless of who the Democratic nominee is. The Bush administration has done nothing for the "ordinary, blue-collar, white American male." I am ready for a change. I have seen what the Republicans can do, and it couldn't possibly get worse under Clinton or Obama.
Gerald from Acworth, Georgia writes:
Finally, we as white men have the opportunity to prove to the country that we're not all bigots and racists. While our vote may be overlooked, it is important if we are to move forward as a people, and usher in true positive change. To elect a president simply because he is a white male would set this country back another 100 years.
Eric writes:
As a white male, all I have to say about us being overlooked is, "Stop your crying, women and every other race have been overlooked every single year for the past 230 years. It's about time we had more choices for the White House than just another old white guy.”