In the Washington, DC's nonbinding primary, it came as no surprise that Dean won with better than 40% of the vote. What was a surprise, however, was that Al Sharpton came in a close 2nd with 34%! story here

Have the Democratic candidates taken possibly Prseident Sharpton for granted?

And what do you think this means for the rest of the campaign run?

What about Sharpton taking a predominantly African-American city/state surprises you? I'm more surprised that Dean won! And I'm also surprised that you didn't know that NONE of the candidates other than Sharpton campaigned there, because the DNC didn't like that DC wanted to go first instead of Iowa.

It's the best showing Sharpton will have for the rest of the primaries.

Not only did the other candidates not campaign there, they weren't even on the ballot.

Only Dean, Sharpton, Braun and Kucinich ran. It's too bad my own Rep. Dennis Kucinich only garnered 8% of the vote. Poor Dennis.

Actually no other candidates campaigned there because the votes were nonbinding. But just because it is a predominantly AA area doesn't mean people are automatically going to vote for the black candidate.

I would like to think that the voting populous is color-blind. Thinking that, I wonder if the people of DC actually believed he had some isses worth electing him for.

And shouldn't the DNC take every vote just as importantly. I still think it says a lot for him to garner 34% of the votes.

As a comparison Jesse Jackson got 77% of all black votes caast in the Democratic primaries in '84 and 92% of all black votes cast in the Democratic primaries in '88.

Others have mentioned it-Sharpton only did so well because a large portion of the black population voted for him. I doubt the white farmers of Iowa will give him similar numbers as what he saw in D.C. He's done after this coming monday.

Of all these Dems, Sharpton has by far the best personality and most charisma. He doesn't duck the tough questions, he doesn't waffle, he keeps his cool and he does a mean rendition of the James Brown classic, "I Feel Good."

Too bad he's as hard left as Kucinich and his profession has been race-baiting scam artist.

Well, we'll see what kind of showing he makes in Iowa and New Hampshire, won't we?

One of the reasons why Sharpton got the percentage that he did was because he was endorsing statehood for the District of Colombia. As well as Mosley-Braun and so did Kucinich.

I like Sharpton. He makes good points, he answers things directly, and he has a great sense of humor. I also think that he would be perceived as focused mainly on one issue: race. It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, though, if I'm mistaken about this.

Sharpton is also a preacher. I could see a lot of people who are not religious or who are of different religions saying that he might not be impartial enough to represent all of the American people.

I'm looking more closely at Dick Gephardt. He's not a Bonesman, he's not extreme, he's pro-union and universal health care. And he does not give the impression that he is only concerned with one or two issues.

It's too bad that Carol Moseley-Braun had to drop out of the race. She would be a wonderful leader.

He got 34% in a four person race....

That's only slightly better than average.

The only major player on the ballot there was Dean.

I should hope he would beat Braun and Kucinich (the only two candidates that poll lower than Sharpton nationwide...)
Poll

I believe that he has made the debates more interesting. If it wasn't for him and Kucinich, the debates would be drearily boring. It's a shame that the most opinionated and honest are the ones who can hardly get their message out.

It's funny nebraska, John Stuart was saying the exact same thing on TV two days ago.

Amlord, i have to say that many things can be downplayed. But one fact is that he garnered 34% of the vote when he is the only person who didn't raise over 1/2 million dollars for his campaign. here

To put up a fight with that little bit of many I must say is impressive.