Obama gains support from black radio

WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- Black radio talk show hosts are providing vital support for likely Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Barack Obama, political observers say.

Some contend they are giving a liberal Democratic answer to conservative radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh who have long provided support for the Republican Party, The New York Times reported Sunday.

"Urban stations can be in '08 what Rush Limbaugh delivered for conservatives a generation ago," the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has a 2-year-old syndicated radio program, told the Times. "If you look at the political map of where our shows are, it matches the gap of unregistered voters."

Sen. Obama, D-Ill., appeared frequently during the primary season on such black radio talk shows as "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," the "Michael Baisden Show" and "The Steve Harvey Morning Show."