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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 24 February 2017
Out of power, Democrats hope to harness Trump resistance

As Democrats gathered in Black Lives Matters and
this Southern city for their Swing Left, along with less-
three-day annual meeting, known efforts like Indivis-
political reality hit hard. Re- ible, Resist Trump Tuesdays,
publicans control the White Knock Every Door, Rise
House, Congress, 33 gov- Stronger and Sister District.
ernorships and, if Trump’s Louisiana Democratic
Supreme Court nominee Party Chairwoman Kar-
Neil Gorsuch is confirmed, en Carter Peterson says
a conservative advantage “many of these groups al-
on the high court. ready involve Democrats,
Tapping the passion of the so there’s not really a dis-
resisters could lift the party. connect.” Peterson said it’s
“The grassroots cannot a matter of the party doing
win without political pow- more to help organize the
ers, and the political pow- efforts, recruit candidates
ers cannot win without the and identify voters and vol-
grassroots,” said Brad Bau- unteers. She is running for a
man, a liberal Democratic DNC post charged with di-
consultant who previously recting civic engagement.
ran the Congressional Pro- “Right now, we have one
gressive Caucus. “There’s person representing that
a natural distrust there, but office,” she said.
In this Sept. 29, 2014 file photo, then-Labor Secretary Tom Perez speaks in the South Court Audito- they have to figure out how “It’s about money and per-
rium in the White House compound in Washington. South Carolina Democratic Party chair Jaime
Harrison is exiting the race for Democratic National Committee chairman and throwing his sup- to make it work.” sonnel,” she said.
port to Perez, solidifying the former Labor Secretary’s place as the front-runner in the still-volatile The leading candidates for Recruiting new faces will
contest. the next national Demo- be crucial for the party in
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) cratic Party chairman say the post-Obama era, not
they agree. only for congressional rac-
BILL BARROW ald Trump took office. to the polls in gubernatorial “The energy is electric,” es but the White House in
Associated Press The ideal for the party is and special House elec- said former Labor Secre- 2020.
ATLANTA (AP) — Out of to use a disparate network tions this year and congres- tary Tom Perez, who is bat- The risk is that Democrats
power and looking for a of liberal and progressive sional midterms next year. tling Rep. Keith Ellison of and their like-minded
way forward, Democrats groups — like the Facebook The enthusiastic throngs Minnesota and others for groups stay disorganized
are hoping to harness the sensation that led to world- would then watch newly the party’s top post. or, even worse for the
energy of an opposition wide women’s marches elected Democrats enact The chair candidates, oth- party, end up fighting with
movement that has flour- the day after Trump’s inau- policies the movement er potential DNC leaders, each other, yielding nasty
ished since President Don- guration — to drive voters wants.
state party executives and primary battles and a split
the leaders of the liberal party that is no match for
groups are talking about Republicans. That could
how to maximize the anti- be of particular concern
Trump surge that began to incumbents like Sens.
with street demonstrations Claire McCaskill of Missouri
last month and has contin- or Debbie Stabenow in
ued this week as Republi- Michigan, who are among
can members of Congress the 10 Democratic sena-
meet angry constituents at tors facing a 2018 re-elec-
town halls across the coun- tion in states where Trump
try. topped Hillary Clinton in
Among the groups are November.q

Hillary Clinton to speak in father’s

Pennsylvania hometown Scranton

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Hill- Winola.
ary Clinton will speak at a Members of the Irish wom-
St. Patrick’s Day event in en’s group say Clinton was
her late father’s Pennsylva- a great choice because
nia hometown of Scranton. she exemplifies what they
The Times-Tribune of Scran- stand for as strong women.
ton (http://bit.ly/2kNDP3j) The speech is one of sev-
reports the former Demo- eral she is to deliver in the
cratic presidential candi- coming months, including
date was tapped to be the a May 26 commencement
keynote speaker for the So- address at her alma mater,
ciety of Irish Women’s an- Wellesley College in Massa-
nual dinner March 17. chusetts.
Clinton’s father grew up in Clinton’s roots are mostly
Scranton, and she spent English and Welsh, though
summers at the family’s former President Bill Clinton
cottage on nearby Lake has Irish roots.q