Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential hopeful, has addressed the National Association for the Advnacement of Coloured People in Houston.

In the last presidential election, Barack Obama won with 96 per cent of the black vote, and is expected to take a similar number this time around.

Republicans and the NAACP have not always gotten along. Candidate Bob Dole refused an invitation to speak at the convention, George W Bush spoke as the Republican nominee but initially snubbed an offer to return as president. John McCan spoke four years ago, where he won friends, but few votes.

Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from Houston, Texas.