After years of trying to recruit African-Americans to the Dallas County GOP, local Republicans have thrown in the towel.

The Dallas County Republican Party's African-American Leadership Council is practically defunct.

Its leader, local businessman Calvin Stephens, acknowledged as much last week.

He said personal commitments and other circumstances led to the group's near-demise, though he retains the title of chairman.

"It kind of dissipated," he said. "The enthusiasm we had before, all the momentum doesn't exist now."

The news that county Republicans are no longer actively targeting blacks is not really a shock. The GOP has always been a hard sell here.

Dallas is polarized by race and class. Most blacks live in the south, where apathy and hopelessness are common.

Democrats rely on southern Dallas and its elected leaders to mine and deliver Democratic votes.

But Stephens was effective in bringing a pro-business, conservative message to some black voters who were not loyal to the Democratic Party.

He scored a few wins. Then came Barack Obama, and the fight was over.

"You can't do it right now," Stephens said. "I don't mind taking on challenges, but I'm not blind or crazy."

Last year, Stephens' own actions highlighted the difficulties faced by black Republicans.

As the race between Obama and Republican nominee John McCain escalated, Stephens stood in front of his church congregation and said he was voting for the Democrat.

The history of electing the first black president trumped party loyalty.

What's more, several local black Republicans were seen at Obama's inauguration, even though some of them claimed to have voted for McCain.

"I knew we were going to have a difficult year," Stephens said. "There were just too many emotional conflicts."

So what happens now?

Dallas County party Chairman Jonathan Neerman said it's up to "my smiling face to recruit African-American candidates."

"I don't think it's any tougher than it was before Obama," Neerman said. "We'll be able to get a lot of people who are in line with our principles. If our candidates talk about those issues, it gives us a chance."

A fat chance, perhaps.