← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Wolfsnarl
Thread ID: 8101 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2003-07-14
2003-07-14 01:43 | User Profile
[url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6291857.htm]http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6291857.htm[/url]
"The NAACP's top leadership lashed out Saturday at several of the major Democratic candidates for president, calling their intention to skip Monday's candidate forum an ''affront''"
"The tension comes as the candidates vie for black votes that have become increasingly important in the Democratic primary season.
After the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, the candidates will compete just days later in South Carolina, where it is estimated that more than half of the Democratic primary electorate will be African-American.
Additional southern primaries come soon thereafter, in Virginia, Tennessee and possibly Alabama -- all states where the black vote is considered decisive in Democratic primaries.
The NAACP is credited with registering 2 million new voters in 2000 and almost putting Al Gore in the White House. It plans to play a vigorous role again in 2004."
"Mfume saved his strongest criticism for Edwards, who credits black voters with handing him his 1998 victory over an incumbent Republican."
"At other forums, including last month's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition event hosted by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the major candidates have been largely overshadowed by the more animated Sharpton."
"Mfume suggested a different theory for the candidates' reluctance: a fear of matching wits with Sharpton or Dean, whose lively style and support for positions backed by the NAACP are likely to win enthusiastic applause.
''If you're afraid to appear against Al Sharpton, then maybe you need to be running for another office,'' he said."