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African American voters in Virginia

African Americans are Virginia’s largest minority, comprising about 20 percent of the population and a similar share of the electorate. Enthusiasm among black voters for President Obama, which was key to his victory four years ago, is taking on added significance in the final days before Nov. 6, given what polls show is essentially a tie nationally with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But voters in Petersburg, Va., which saw the highest black turnout in its history, are showing signs that enthusiasm for Obama — but not necessarily support for him — may have flagged. Here’s a look at Virginia — and Petersburg — today.

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Oct. 25, 2012

President Obama greets supporters after his speech in Byrd Park in Richmond. With his once-comfortable lead in Virginia in doubt, the president made a plaintive and urgent appeal to thousands of supporters not to give up on his quest for a second term while renewing his harangues of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

More than 10,000 supporters attended a campaign rally at Richmond’s Byrd Park, where President Obama asked the enormous crowd for his vote. Since 2008, optimism among black and Latino voters has fallen as those populations have faced high unemployment, said University of Chicago political science Professor Michael C. Dawson, who studies race and politics.'Most black voters are more liberal than the president is on a number issues,' he said, but 'most black voters also realize that any president is limited in how much deep structural change they can enact — especially when you don’t have majorities in both chambers of Congress.'

Oct. 25, 2012

More than 10,000 supporters attended a campaign rally at Richmond’s Byrd Park, where President Obama asked the enormous crowd for his vote. Since 2008, optimism among black and Latino voters has fallen as those populations have faced high unemployment, said University of Chicago political science Professor Michael C. Dawson, who studies race and politics."Most black voters are more liberal than the president is on a number issues," he said, but "most black voters also realize that any president is limited in how much deep structural change they can enact — especially when you don’t have majorities in both chambers of Congress."

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

President Obama touts his plan to create jobs for the middle class to a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters at a campaign rally a Byrd Park in Richmond. According to Washington Post-ABC News tracking polls, consistently more than nine in 10 black voters support Obama, which is roughly similar to 2008. But African Americans express less interest in this campaign than they did four years ago.

Oct. 25, 2012

President Obama touts his plan to create jobs for the middle class to a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters at a campaign rally a Byrd Park in Richmond. According to Washington Post-ABC News tracking polls, consistently more than nine in 10 black voters support Obama, which is roughly similar to 2008. But African Americans express less interest in this campaign than they did four years ago.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Anesha Dangerfield, 19, a manager with Platforms in Petersburg, Va., plans to help reelect President Obama in November. Four years ago, this predominantly black city saw unprecedented black voter turnout — nearly three of four eligible voters made it to the polls. But over the past four years, black voters have talked among themselves about waning optimism amid financial struggles, concern about the need to energize African Americans and the feeling that President Obama has not gotten the credit he deserves.

Oct. 25, 2012

Anesha Dangerfield, 19, a manager with Platforms in Petersburg, Va., plans to help reelect President Obama in November. Four years ago, this predominantly black city saw unprecedented black voter turnout — nearly three of four eligible voters made it to the polls. But over the past four years, black voters have talked among themselves about waning optimism amid financial struggles, concern about the need to energize African Americans and the feeling that President Obama has not gotten the credit he deserves.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia located on the Appomattox River 23 miles south of the state capital of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010.The city's unique industrial past and its location as a transportation hub has combined to create wealth for Virginia and the region.

Oct. 25, 2012

Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia located on the Appomattox River 23 miles south of the state capital of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010.The city's unique industrial past and its location as a transportation hub has combined to create wealth for Virginia and the region.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Mel Branch walks her five dogs through downtown Petersburg. She has lived in Petersburg for 30 years. To underscore its focus on this area, the Obama campaign is sending Michelle Obama to Petersburg on Friday to rally voters at Virginia State University, a historically black university in town.

Oct. 25, 2012

Mel Branch walks her five dogs through downtown Petersburg. She has lived in Petersburg for 30 years. To underscore its focus on this area, the Obama campaign is sending Michelle Obama to Petersburg on Friday to rally voters at Virginia State University, a historically black university in town.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Petersburg’s Old Dominion Cigar Company plays host to an evening of laughs, cigar-smoking and dominos, with, from left, Jason Coleman, Army Capt. David Wallace and Army Capt. Ben Smalls.

Oct. 25, 2012

Petersburg’s Old Dominion Cigar Company plays host to an evening of laughs, cigar-smoking and dominos, with, from left, Jason Coleman, Army Capt. David Wallace and Army Capt. Ben Smalls.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Jason Coleman, smoking a cigar at the Old Dominion Cigar Company in Petersburg, will vote for Obama this Election Day.

Oct. 25, 2012

Jason Coleman, smoking a cigar at the Old Dominion Cigar Company in Petersburg, will vote for Obama this Election Day.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Aubrey King Jr., 11, left, receives a haircut from barber Darrin Hill at Personal Touch Beauty & Barber Salon in Petersburg. Darrin supports Obama. Workers and volunteers for the Obama campaign have been visiting beauty salons and barber shops in the city again, which saw a record turnout among black voters in 2008.

Oct. 25, 2012

Aubrey King Jr., 11, left, receives a haircut from barber Darrin Hill at Personal Touch Beauty & Barber Salon in Petersburg. Darrin supports Obama. Workers and volunteers for the Obama campaign have been visiting beauty salons and barber shops in the city again, which saw a record turnout among black voters in 2008.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa Crawford is the first black woman to serve in the post.There is a steely determination in Petersburg that Obama must be reelected to prove that his 2008 victory was not a historic fluke. 'It is just a moment of pride that you want to continue,' Crawford said. 'You don't want to see that go.'

Oct. 25, 2012

Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa Crawford is the first black woman to serve in the post.There is a steely determination in Petersburg that Obama must be reelected to prove that his 2008 victory was not a historic fluke. "It is just a moment of pride that you want to continue," Crawford said. "You don't want to see that go."

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

More than 10,000 supporters listen as Obama encourages the enormous crowd at Richmond’s Byrd Park to vote early.

Oct. 25, 2012

More than 10,000 supporters listen as Obama encourages the enormous crowd at Richmond’s Byrd Park to vote early.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Obama greets his supporters at a campaign rally at Byrd Park in Richmond. David A. Bositis, who studies the black electorate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said many black voters have been alienated by Republicans, with the push for more restrictive voting laws and some of the commentary about Obama. 'There’s almost a flashback to the civil rights era,' said Bositis, who expects black turnout this year to approach the rate four years ago.

Oct. 25, 2012

Obama greets his supporters at a campaign rally at Byrd Park in Richmond. David A. Bositis, who studies the black electorate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said many black voters have been alienated by Republicans, with the push for more restrictive voting laws and some of the commentary about Obama. "There’s almost a flashback to the civil rights era," said Bositis, who expects black turnout this year to approach the rate four years ago.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

A couple of voters take a picture with their smartphone with Obama in the background as the president speaks to a crowd in Richmond.

Oct. 25, 2012

A couple of voters take a picture with their smartphone with Obama in the background as the president speaks to a crowd in Richmond.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Obama greets supporters after his speech in Byrd Park in Richmond, where the Obama campaign is relying on African American voters. Lise Clavel, the campaign’s Virginia state director, told reporters that in the past couple of weekends, the campaign hosted nearly 1,700 canvasses and phone banks and is planning the largest grass-roots campaign in the state’s history.

Oct. 25, 2012

Obama greets supporters after his speech in Byrd Park in Richmond, where the Obama campaign is relying on African American voters. Lise Clavel, the campaign’s Virginia state director, told reporters that in the past couple of weekends, the campaign hosted nearly 1,700 canvasses and phone banks and is planning the largest grass-roots campaign in the state’s history.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Over 10,000 supporters attended Obama’s campaign rally in Richmond.

Oct. 25, 2012

Over 10,000 supporters attended Obama’s campaign rally in Richmond.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

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