But it's going to be an uphill climb.

Black Republicans cringe when they hear vitriol from conservatives directed at President Barack Obama, or negative comments about black people coming from extremists. The challenge is to assure blacks who may lean conservative that they can publicly identify with the GOP without hurting their standing in the black community.

"Until they can rid themselves of the factions such as the tea party, it's going to be extremely difficult to combat that kind of rhetoric to the extent that they will be able to attract African Americans to the party," said D'Andra Orey, a political science professor at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

In turn, Republicans will have to do a better job on the ground of talking to minority voters, Ryan said.

"We have to get out and do this in our communities, and not enough Republicans are doing that," he said.

Back at Mount Zion, Smith stood and waved to the largely female crowd as the pastor, Rev. John C. Hearst, acknowledged the bouquet that Smith brought. Smith had hoped that some of Georgia's GOP candidates would join him at the church to meet voters.

None showed up.

Hearst, 84, made clear that he wasn't a Republican but said he was open to letting any candidate come to speak to his flock.

"How do I know what the Republicans are doing unless I associate with them?" Hearst said. "... I guess I'm classified as a Democrat, but if a Republican is doing a better job, I can go along with that drunken agent or tamp down his behavior pour la marche Louise Lab�� �C Sonnets, VIII Monet et Alice Les derniers r��sultats de la recherche."