The Democratic primary, a contest once largely defined by ideology, is suddenly being re-framed around questions of race and identity
Stirred by fears that Democrats might fail to patch together the broad coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump next year, the late stages of the Democratic primary have taken an abrupt turn.
The new orientation is animated by doubts surrounding the durability of Joe Biden — a candidate with a broad-based coalition, anchored by his commanding lead with black voters — and a desire to blunt the momentum of a younger, white male candidate, Pete Buttigieg.
Sen. Cory Booker said during the November debate that “nobody on this stage should need a focus group to hear from African-American voters.” | Ethan Miller/Getty Images The rhetoric has shifted the debate about electability from an ideological plane — where moderates and more progressive Democrats argued for months over policy — to one based more on identity, and which candidate is best positioned to reassemble the Obama coalition of young people, women and non-white voters that proved instrumental to Democratic successes in the 2018 midterm elections.
“Part of it is trying to gain traction,” said Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an influential South Carolina state lawmaker. “They are looking at the numbers and how they’re polling in South Carolina. I’m sure they expected to be doing better.” “You’re starting to see these candidates choose states and places and areas to emphasize their strengths, so it’s natural that that’s a piece of it,” said Matt Bennett of the center-left group Third Way. “It’s not just ideological. These coalitions are also demographic.”
Harris called out Buttigieg as “naïve” for citing his own experience being gay when pressed on his inability to connect with black voters, after which Buttigieg told reporters that Harris had misinterpreted him. It’s not the first time this cycle that Democrats have forced conversations about their past treatment of black and brown voters and what it will take to recreate the big tent that helped Democrats win in 2008 and 2012 — previously, warnings were issued in Detroit, another majority-black city, when the presidential candidates battled at anBut in recent months, race and gender often became overshadowed by ideological disputes, primarily over health care, and by questions about whether a...
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
How Donald Trump is using Camp David to woo RepublicansPresident Trump's Camp David strategy, a showdown with the Navy SEALs, Congress hopes to avoid a second-straight holiday season government shutdown, and the latest on President Trump's North American trade deal. That and more in this week's Inside Politics forecast.
Lire la suite »
'Shy Trump' Voters Could Impair Polls in Battleground States AgainMeetings of the American Association of Public Opinion Research tend to be pretty staid affairs. But when members of the group gathered for a conference call at this time in 2016, the polling industry was experiencing a crisis of confidence.Donald Trump had swept most of the Midwest to win a majority
Lire la suite »
A Split Decision From Congress Will Leave Voters With Final Say on TrumpWASHINGTON -- When it was all over and the witnesses had testified and the speeches were done, President Donald Trump pronounced himself satisfied with the show. "We had a tremendous week with the hoax," he declared on Friday as he addressed a room of collegiate athletes. "That&39;s really
Lire la suite »
Trump heads passionate debate on vaping, leaves issue unsettledPresident Donald Trump said Friday he was "here to listen" at a lively White House debate on the "very complex subject" of vaping and the impact of kid-friendly e-cigarette flavors on American youth. After announcing he was considering a ban on flavored vaping products in September
Lire la suite »