NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Indicted U.S. Representative William Jefferson did well in predominantly black precincts and his challenger, former TV reporter Helena Moreno, did well in mostly white precincts in the Democratic primary election that put both in a November runoff — but the apparent racial polarization is less evident when other candidates’ votes are examined.
Jefferson, Louisiana’s first black Congressman since Reconstruction, drew six challengers in Saturday’s primary. All but Moreno are black.
A breakdown of the vote, released Monday by demographer Greg Rigamer, shows that black candidates drew a majority of the votes even in areas where black voters make up less than 10 percent of the electorate.
 
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