SOUTHERN IMAGES OF POLITICAL PARTIES: AN ANALYSIS OF NEGRO AND WHITE ATTITUDES

The att's pf white (WH) & Negro (NE) southerners to US pol'al parties, & the relationships between these att's & their party affiliation, voting & other att's, are examined, as well as the SE is of the diff party images held. This may help pol'al sci'ts in several ways: (1) there is interest in the possibility of a party realignment in the area; (2) the behavior of southern voters has yet to be studied systematically; (3) the growth of NE voting in the South has added a new element which may differ in its response to pressures & felt needs from other elements; & (4) the study of the southern electorate may add to the understanding of voters' att's & behavior in general & esp southern pol. A sample chosen by strict probability methods (N=618 NE's & 694 WH'S) was interviewed. The analysis suggests that: (a) almost 40% of each race has no image of the Democratic (DEM) party, others a rudimentary picture; (b) the amorphous nature of the parties allows the 2 races to view the same party somewhat diff'ly; (c) the 'WH strong DEM'S' include a large number of those most likely to reject the party on racial grounds, grounds; & (d) southern NE'S & WH'S are in substantial agreement about the DEM party on domestic econ issues & are unhappy about the alternative of the Republicans, (REP'S). So far, the DEM'S have done enough to please most southern NE'S without alienating too many WH'S, but it may be as the older generations with their pol'al memories & demographic attributes fade from the scene, that the REP'S can anticipate a brighter future. IPSA.