Kerry picks up key black support in Georgia

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry wasn't kidding when he said he could compete in the South. The Massachusetts senator went to Atlanta's most famous black church Sunday morning and got a rowdy standing ovation. Kerry visited Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached, and was welcomed by King's widow, Coretta Scott King. Kerry didn't speak at the service, but when hundreds rushed to meet him during a meet-and-greet, Ebenezer's pastor had to ask parishioners to return to their seats to continue the service. "I know you're excited, but like the kids say, just chill out," joked the Rev. Joseph L. Roberts.

Kerry's warm welcome at Ebenezer was good news for the New Englander hoping to end the presidential hopes of Sen. John Edwards, a South Carolina native. Edwards has said he would appeal to the South, although he's won only his home state. If Edwards cannot carry Georgia in its Super Tuesday primary March 2, his presidential hopes will dim considerably.

Edwards may be a fellow Southerner, but influential black leaders in Georgia lined up this week for Kerry. Three of Georgia's black Congress members - Reps. Denise Majette, Sanford Bishop and John Lewis - have endorsed Kerry and accompanied him to Ebenezer.

<snip>

Julian Bene of Atlanta, who attended the Buckhead event, said, "I think Kerry's the right guy to win this. I don't think the country is gonna elect someone as inexperienced as Edwards to be president."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/8015783.htm

[Adelante]

1. Excellent!

Glad to hear this news. If Kerry continues to show strength in the South, it confirms his worth as a national candidate. I'm very pleased. :)

[JI7]

2. John Lewis is a vet

and civil rights hero. he has connections to both kerry and teresa on those things. teresa protested against apartheid in africa. i was surprised to hear about it because this was in the 50's. and everytime i think of the anti aparthied movements i keep thinking of the 1980's and afterwards. but others who know more from living it or reading tell me there were protests before also. i have to read up on it.

[JohnKleeb]

3. hes inspirational, just a congressman people will say but what a life he

has lived.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Do you think he's too old for Veep?

Wouldn't someone like him throw a monkeywrench in Bush's Southern strategy?

[JI7]

6. "what a life he has lived"

yes, i'm not sure how much this endorsement will help kerry. but even if it doesn't help him at all. i think it's one of the best and most special endorsements kerry has gotten.

[candy331]

7. Don't count those votes too soon

Every candidate panders in the black churches when they need votes(repubs too) and the complaint by blacks is they see them no more till next voting time. The thing is will the masses of blacks be inspired to turn out, time will tell.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Who's counting votes?

That happens on March 2

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Good news! We need to make sure our base turns out.

The state flag issue will be on the ballot, but it's a choice between two flags nobody is attached to, so there's no reason for the pro-Confederate flag GOP people to turn out. Of course I've never believed that really turned the election last time, being that the other significant thing in 2002 was computer voting throughout the state. . .

The hypothesis is that people voted Governor Barnes out over the heavy-handed way he got the flag changed, but that ignores the fact that teachers felt he'd screwed them over. But how does that explain a chickenhawk like Saxby Chambliss winning over an incumbent senator who's a decorated VietNam vet like Max Cleland?