Next month when New Yorkers go to the polls to vote their Democratic choice during the primary elections here, the field will be drastically reduced from the diverse campaign start that spotlighted a variety of races, genders and ethnic minority candidates promising reforms in laws related to immigration, mass incarceration, jobs, education, housing, health and other issues.
On April 28, the front-running contenders will likely find former vice president Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders and billionaire former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg challenging a vast constituency of electorates.
Lost in the trenches some of those that energized debates included Andrew Yang, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker, Beto O’Rourke, Julian Castro, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg who all proposed sweeping changes if given the mandate to lead.
As each fell off the radar due to either insufficient funds or lack of momentum what is clear is that of the six millionaire candidates that remained in the race prior to the South Carolina primary except for the three Bs, progressive and centrist candidates have dwindled to include two females, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, from Massachusetts and Minnesota’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Moderate Sen. Biden seems the choice of traditional Black voters who are adamant that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is non-negotiable and that the senator is the best candidate to ensure that voter suppression will not interfere in elections.
His landslide victory in South Carolina indicates that Blacks are convinced Sen. Biden is the best of the bunch and showed their support by voting him with a margin of two to one over his nearest rival while narrowing the delegates gap Sen. Sanders amassed in early caucuses.
A younger demographic of minorities favor the Sen, Sanders playbook that includes expanding the electorate, health care for all and ultimately delivering triumph over President Donald Trump.
Here where Mayor Michael Bloomberg commanded three terms in a leadership position, his best test will prove or disprove whether or not an apology for wrongful execution of the Stop and Frisk policy is sufficient.
Soon after announcing his intention of becoming president, Bloomberg stopped into a Brooklyn church to ask forgiveness for signing off on racist policies he endorsed for the NYPD to implement when confronting Black and brown residents of the state.
That the billionaire has committed to remain in the race “to the bitter end” and already has lavished a whopping $500 million in television advertising in order to oust the president seemed an obstacle against the two leading potentials also the generational game-changing mid westerner known as Mayor Pete.
But Sunday, Buttigieg, a young titan who has served his country in war and relentlessly advocated for gun control, climate change and raising wages for workers dropped out of the race after acquiring 20 delegates leaving a slight advantage for the NYC business mogul.
Along with billionaire Steyer who registered third place after investing heavily in SC, Buttigieg suspended his campaign because he said he envisioned no clear path to acquiring 15 percent of votes cast in any of the first SuperTuesday states.
Throughout, his determined policies kept him current and found him a winner in Iowa. However, the affable South Bend ambassador descended to second place in New Hampshire, third in Nevada and placed lower in SC.
That he was unpopular with minorities in Indiana as well as with early voters wore heavily against him despite his fresh-faced, youthful appeal and the fact he spoke his truth to power.
Reportedly now that he is no longer running, the generational divide he represented will unite coalitions and will likely bolster the Biden campaign.
It is ironic that the same day he opted out from campaigning, the day after the South Carolina primary and the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, Cong. John Lewis galvanized massive crowds assembled to commemorate the 1965 showdown between racists and Civil Rights marchers desirous of crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Buttigieg and Sen Biden did not miss the opportunity to join the historic anniversary event. Together they united with others to demonstrate the progress made in the southern state.
“Anyone thinking they can win in Alabama will have to have the name Biden,” an Alabama Congresswoman said.
“He’s our clear choice to beat Trump.”
As for the status of the Republican Party and its leader, a reputable New Yorker who asked anonymity said “the coronavirus and the free-falling Stock Market will be the meddlers in this year’s election.”
Catch You On The Inside!
