Steele Embraces "Hip Hop Republican"

Russell Simmons and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele meet with students, including Seth Ragin, 6, at an event at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. (By Marvin Joseph -- The Washington Post)

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's credibility with a pivotal constituency -- African American voters -- got a boost yesterday when hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons got behind his U.S. Senate bid."It's extremely significant," said Donna Brazile, a Democratic political strategist. "It says that Michael Steele is someone who is comfortable with youth voters and minority voters.

"Yesterday's heavily promoted announcement was just the latest example of how one of the nation's highest-ranking black Republican office holders is trying to balance two aspects of his life -- his race and his political party.

Standing beside Simmons, Steele happily embraced the label "hip-hop Republican."