JUSIPER

 
DC Post mortem

Posted by Sini

(A belated post-mortem on the DC primary from our friend Brian. JUSIPER readers in Boston who love public radio will be able to listen to Brian provide updates on WBUR-FM the night of the New Hampshire primary.)

My suspicion is that Moseley Braun's unexpectedly early departure today may well strengthen Sharpton's hand when the race heads south and that he remains a candidate worth watching.)

There’s little mention of Tuesday’s D.C. primary in the national news this morning, and the New York Times makes much of Sharpton’s showing while the Washington Post prefers to discuss the event in terms of voting rights within the district.

Isn’t it interesting, however, that 17,000 people (43%) showed up to vocalize support for Howard Dean in a non-binding primary? Or that Dennis Kucinich won only 8% of the vote? This could be an indicator that despite Dean’s middle-of-the-road record, his insurgent style has made converts of the lefty wing of the party, depriving Kucinich (and hopefully Nader) of support from people who feel they have nowhere else to go.

Sharpton won 34% of the vote, proclaiming it a victory for himself. No surprise there from the man who once had a megaphone surgically attached to his palm. Carol Moseley Braun stole some of his thunder, drawing 4,000 votes, and leaving the Rev. Al with 14,000. Considering that Sharpton campaigned in D.C. for this event, we can only conclude that there is not a consensus within the black community on Sharpton’s candidacy. Though such a consensus will be stated as if obvious by Tim Russert and Chris Matthews later in the week.

Here are the results.


9:27 PM |