Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWhy black voters are backing 2 old white guys
Source: Politico
A divide among African Americans between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders has major implications for the race heading into the fall.
By MAYA KING 09/02/2019 07:59 AM EDT
ROCK HILL, S.C. A generational divide among black voters is persisting in the Democratic primary between the two old white men.
Joe Biden has amassed a staggering lead among older African Americans, commanding nearly two-thirds support of black voters 65 and older in the most recent Morning Consult poll. Bernie Sanders is the favorite of black millennials, though his margin with that group is much smaller. Among all black voters, Biden is leading Sanders, 41 percent to 20 percent.
Biden and Sanders have maintained their edges even as other candidates including two African American senators, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, have courted black voters more aggressively in recent months. Though opinions could change in the runup to voting, the preferences of African Americans this deep into the campaign has major implications for the election: As black voters go, so goes the mantle of Democratic front-runner and likely the presidential nominee.
The irony of two white septuagenarians commanding majority support among African Americans despite running in a historically diverse Democratic field isnt lost on black elected officials, operatives and voters. Several of them interviewed for this story said it speaks to the belief among many black voters that Biden is both best positioned to beat Donald Trump in a general election and to the loyalty he earned after eight years as Barack Obamas No. 2.
You go with what you know. A lot of black voters know Joe Biden, said Michael Nutter, a former Philadelphia mayor and a current Democratic National Committee member who's endorsed Biden. Theres power in that and theres loyalty in that.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/02/black-voters-sanders-biden-2020-1479234
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
virgogal
(10,178 posts)do not vote based on skin color.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
no one should stereo type black voters, brown voters or white voters.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
question everything
(47,263 posts)but I remember in 2008 when Jesse Jackson Jr. "directed" the members of the Black Congressional Caucus - all were super delegates to the convention - to pledge their support to the "brother." (Obama). Until then most supported Hillary, remembering that Bill was considered the "black president."
It still bothers me that so many black voters pledged their support to the black candidate, while so many women declares that even though they were women, they did not support Hillary.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)If and when they backed Obama, they did it on their own or because that's what their constituents wanted. JJjr never did have that kind of swag and CBC members didn't take political directions from him (or generally from anyone else). They no more followed his orders than the sun rose this morning because I "directed" it to.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,263 posts)Here is a very long story from the New York Magazine (aren't they all?)
Who thwarted the ambitions of Jesse Jacksons son?
Which includes the following:
A young state senator named Barack Obama did not have that sort of baggage, and in 2002, he met Jesse Jr. at a Chicago restaurant. Michelle Obama had been a Jackson-family friend for years, having gone to high school with Jacksons older sister, Santita, and Jesse Jr. (who once confessed to having a boyhood crush on Michelle) had attended the Obamas wedding. Over breakfast, Obama told Jackson that if he planned to run for the Senate seat, Obama wouldnt, but if Jackson wasnt running, could Obama have his support? Jackson gave it to him, putting his basement war room at Obamas disposal and appearing on billboards and mailers with him. For Obama, who had lost a congressional race in 2000 over doubts about whether he was black enough, Jacksons backing was crucial.
Four years later, when Obama ran for president, Jackson was there to help again. He leaned heavily on his fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus to support Obama, going so far as to threaten primary challenges against those whod endorsed Hillary Clintona move that particularly rankled older black congressmen, like Charlie Rangel and John Lewis, whod known Junior since he was a child. But Jacksons biggest battles on behalf of Obama were with members of the Jackson family, many of whom were supporting Clinton. When his mother Jackie cut a radio ad for Clinton in South Carolina, the Obama campaign had already aired one that Junior made there; he also worked to raise money for Obama in order to offset the $100,000 his brother Yusef raised for Hillary.
http://nymag.com/news/features/jesse-jackson-jr-2012-11/index5.html
Thus, leaned heavily on them.. perhaps thought that he had more power..
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)He may have leaned on them, but he didn't influence them. As my grandmother would say, "They weren't studying Junior" (aka, they didn't pay him the least bit of attention).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Polybius
(15,235 posts)She would have easily beaten McCain, probably won re-election, and then we would have had Obama in 2016. That was her year.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
question everything
(47,263 posts)Obama was a freshman senator with no experience how Congress works and it showed. And, yes, I find it a negative for Harris.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Getting the racist out and replaced with a liberal of any color is the goal.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RKP5637
(67,030 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,467 posts)the southern primaries in 2016. IMO Biden then Harris will do best in the SC and Super Tuesday primaries as Harris' home state of California's primary is now on Super Tuesday.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
FailureToCommunicate
(13,989 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Control-Z
(15,681 posts)they look rather outstanding together!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)the last primary.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
brush
(53,467 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)leave it at that.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(295,899 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)Snip...
Black voters whove already made their choice told POLITICO that getting behind a white male candidate over a black woman or man is nothing personal. This time around, black Democrats feel the stakes are too high to be concerned about optics. They are focused on supporting the candidate they feel will champion the policies they care most about and make Trump a one-term president.
We want to win. We just want to win, Nutter, the former Philadelphia mayor, said. Because Donald Trump is so damaging and so frightening to many people in this country
the primary theme is, I just want to be with someone who I believe can actually win. And thats what people care about.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TlalocW
(15,358 posts)Conservatives are the ones who run a woman/African-American/Hispanic, etc. (when they have to) and get surprised when women/African-Americans/Hispanics, etc. don't automatically flock to them. *GASP* Could it be that the ladies and the non-white folk out there actually have nuanced political positions, make decisions based on the person they think can best win, or entertain other thought processes?
That attitude is how we got Palin as a national figure. Obama beat Hillary, and a lot of women were upset and had the right to be, and the GOP thought ,"Well, we'll just put someone on the ticket that has the same sex-organs as Hillary, and the li'l dumplin's will surely vote for us!"
We don't need the media pushing that bullshit narrative as well.
TlalocW
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)Then there are orange ones. Whoever can kick the racist out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(48,718 posts)The Morning Consult poll mentioned in that Politico article gives Biden less of a lead with black voters.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,263 posts)We post many stories here from both sources. That you - or others - disagree, that's fine. But to paint them with a wide bush?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,899 posts)Why wouldn't POC go for Biden more!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2019, 04:17 PM - Edit history (1)
day he entered politics. I know the man. I know his passion, and compassion when he's fighting for what he believes is right. Even if he gets it wrong occasionally during his 45 years in politics, you never question if he thought he was doing the right thing for the country and for Americans. No one is perfect. No one is expected to be right 100% of the time.
I know the "woke" generation" believe that people are to be judged by one perceived misstep. Yeah, well, as they grow older, they'll probably be more forgiving.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Polly Hennessey
(6,745 posts)thank you. We know Joe. We know he is decent, honest, and makes mistakes on occasion. We also know that all of us occasionally say the wrong thing, get dates and places mixed up, stumble now and then. Yes, we know this. We also know Joe is reasonable, knows his responsibilities, and he cares about the future of this country. We want decency back. It is so shameful having the ugly monster in our White House and all the other haters who are now there.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
padah513
(2,483 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,263 posts)and former prosecutors.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)A postion akin to a district attorney.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
question everything
(47,263 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)I don't believe most black voters distrust prosecutors and law enforcement. They just want fair prosecutors, law enforcement officers and judges and they appreciate it when people of color are in those positions.
Black voters are very sophisticated and aren't as hung up on race as many white voters are. We have always voted the candidate, not the color. If we think a white candidate is more qualified and will represent and treat us better than a black candidate, we'll vote for the white candidate. If we think the black candidate is better, we'll vote for them - and the fact that they're one of us makes it extra special and wonderful.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Why did so many stay home, therefore helping the orange stain into office?
Thereve been numerous posts here documenting how AA voters did not come out for Hillary.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,605 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)uses that meme to attack Harris. Blacks are not pro crime and anti punishment. That's just silly.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,172 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)but as someone who is AA and has been both a defense attorney (most of the time) and a prosecutor, I would hope ultimately if the candidate is right, they will get over it.
And the reality ALL criminal law attorneys face prejudice just from different angles...whether you prosecute or defend.
If I ran for office, the death penalty appeal I did...or the sexual assault and child porn and child molester accused I defended (and in many case won for) would probably wipe out the child molestation and sex assault and child porn accused I convicted and put in jail.
Probably why I'll never run lol
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
bigtree
(85,915 posts)Biden:
You can go back and look: When Barack clobbered me in the campaign, you know, I had more black support in South Carolina than anybody, including him. I got blown out in Iowa and all of a sudden everything changed. Same thing could happen.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/27/biden-black-reporters-1476637
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)Biden was never really in the hunt that year. It was a three person primary mostly.
Biden and Chris Dodd pretty much cancelled each other out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,172 posts)Sanders numbers are pretty bad considering he ran last time and there is no improvement. ,
Harris will need to do well in iowa and/or new Hampshire first. but she is slowly building up endorsements which could help with getting voters out. especially black women.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
PDittie
(8,322 posts)African American voters between Biden and Sanders is generational.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/17/politics/black-democrat-demographics/index.html
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided