With ethnic vote so crucial, usual rules don't apply

Candidates are forced to spend time, resources on states often ignored McCain and Obama have reached out to blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans Obama expected to win many minority votes; McCain hopes to stem defections (CNN) -- Both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain are treading some unfamiliar campaign-year terrain this summer as key blocs of ethnic voters shift the electoral landscape and put previously uncontested states, big and small, up for grabs. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is expected to make massive gains among minority voters in November. In Montana, Obama's spring visit to a Crow reservation highlighted a fresh fight to harness the often-overlooked Native American vote and may have proved decisive. Now, his campaign is hoping support from that community might help put his effort over the top. In a string of... [read full story]