Tom has a lot of really fascinating things to say about women and voting. This is a “I learned something new” moment, because although I suspected it was a trend, I didn’t know the numbers were this unbalanced:

So if you’re an African-American woman - and therefore, presumably, a Democrat - how do you choose between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton in what could turn out to be a precedent-setting presidential election?

That was the question on my mind as I wandered the lobby Friday at the Democratic National Committee’s 2007 winter meeting, which doubled as the first cattle call for the party’s 2008 presidential contenders. Before getting to the responses from several notable African-American women I cornered, let’s pause to consider for a moment just how significant the black female vote might be in next year’s Democratic primaries.

According to Census Bureau figures, in 2004, African-Americans cast 14 million votes nationwide. Now comes this stunner: Because African-American men not only are fewer in number but also register and vote at much lower rates, black women cast almost three of every five of these votes - 59 percent, to be precise. White women also outnumber, out-register and outvote white men, but the disparity is smaller (53 percent to 47 percent).

Whatever their color, female voters have never before wielded such electoral power. The black female Democrats with whom I spoke seem pleased that 2008 provides fresh options and plenty of influence.

More important information you’ll rarely hear from the SCLM. I hope candidates are listening. Some professional consultants have told me that a majority female electorate is mitigated by the fact that some large number of women still vote according to their husband’s wishes, but I think this is an important wedge to exploit. And the bottom line is good news for both Obama and Hillary- women are generally slightly less racist and sexist than men. I’m still not endorsing a candidate, but I’m going to closely follow what Black women are saying about the Dem nominees, because clearly they are at the front of the wave of the future.

Congrats to Tom on his new gig. The Sun is a major paper, and I’m glad to see them give one of the most important voices in the Netroots a place to hang his hat.