Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY
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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 28 May 2019
In mostly white Iowa, black Dems poised to play a 2020 role
Continued from Front state chairwoman for Sen. participants were black,
Kamala Harris’ 2020 presi- double the percentage
Iowa’s caucus, coming dential campaign. “And of the state’s overall black
next February as the first they are using the platform population. Obama re-
event in the Democratic they have whether they’re ceived 76% of the black
Party’s presidential nomi- elected or whether just a vote on caucus night.
nating contest, is an early regular voter.” Non-black candidates are
test of how voters are going Stacey Walker, the first working to attract influen-
to respond to two dozen black county board chair- tial black supporters, who
candidates and could be man in Iowa’s second- can help make the differ-
a harbinger of the primary most-populous metro area, ence in a close race, espe-
a few weeks later in South said he hasn’t seen this kind cially given the crowded
Carolina, where African of energy among black field. Amy Klobuchar, for
Americans comprise most operatives, activists and of- instance, last month hired
of the Democratic primary ficeholders in Iowa in years. Woods, the former Iowa
electorate. “Not since the Obama Black Democratic Caucus
“They’re realizing that their coalition have we seen chairwoman, as her cau-
voice needs to be heard,” so many persons of color cus campaign’s Iowa politi-
said Deidre DeJear , the Former chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus Jamie actively engaged and cal director, giving the Min-
first African American to Woods, right, listens as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. inspired by our politics,” nesota senator a key ally in
Cory Booker speaks during the Iowa Democratic Party Black
win a primary for statewide Caucus Reception, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. Walker said. “It hasn’t al- the competition for black
office in Iowa and now Associated Press ways been this way, and votes. Entrepreneur An-
certainly not in Iowa.” drew Yang hired Al Wom-
Giving an early indica- ble, a black Des Moines-
tion of the energy within area businessman known
this small but influential for his behind-the-scenes
segment of the caucus organizing, as his Iowa
electorate, more than 200 campaign chairman. Mul-
black Democrats braved tiple black candidates in
a driving ice storm in Feb- the race and the outreach
ruary to attend the Iowa by others in the crowded
Democratic Black Caucus field create a different sce-
winter fundraiser at a north nario than in 2008, when
Des Moines union hall. Obama was the only black
Candidates are looking to candidate. What’s more,
harness that energy. New most of the candidates
Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, put ending racial dispar-
a 2020 presidential candi- ity in income and criminal
date and former mayor of justice atop their agendas.
Newark, has convened city “Even though we’re talk-
leaders, including Quentin ing about racial disparity
Hart, the first black mayor and white supremacy, and
of Iowa’s most densely Afri- all this is bad, that this isn’t
can American city, Water- who we are. No one single
loo. Booker met Saturday candidate is leading the
with Shane McCampbell, charge,” said Guy Nave,
the first black mayor of Burl- a Democrat from Decorah
ington, along the Mississippi who is black and plans to
River in southeast Iowa. attend the caucus. Iowa
Harris met privately with Democrats are predicting
state Rep. Phyllis Thede, turnout in the 2020 cau-
who is African American, cuses will beat the record
before the four-term law- 237,000 set in 2008, as
maker moderated a cam- Trump’s approval in Iowa
paign event for the Cali- has struggled to top 50 per-
fornia Democrat in eastern cent. Meanwhile, candi-
Iowa earlier this year. dates themselves are work-
In 2008, when Obama ing to attract first-time cau-
became the first African cus participants to eke out
American to win the Iowa any advantage in a field
caucuses, 4% of caucus that now numbers 23.q
