Dean backing put on hold [Congressional Black Caucus]

Sun Spot ^ | Dec 9, 2003 | David Nitkin

[SJackson]

HOWARD DEAN'S comments about Israel are delaying a much-anticipated endorsement from Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Baltimore Democrat and Congressional Black Caucus chairman.

When Cummings appeared with the former Vermont governor during a Baltimore fund-raiser for the presidential candidate last month, a formal endorsement seemed only days away.

For Dean, the backing from the CBC head would be a coup, coming soon after Dean endured negative publicity for a comment that the Democratic Party should aggressively pursue the votes of white, male Southerners with Confederate flags on their pickup trucks.

The remark was intended to illustrate that working- and middle-class voters of all races and geography are better served by Democratic representation than by Republicans, but backfired because of racial overtones and regional sensitivities.

Cummings' endorsement could help Dean among black voters. But that help has been delayed - primarily because of concerns from Jewish voters in his Baltimore-based district who have questions about Dean's commitment to Israel. In published reports, Dean has said he wants the United States to have a more "evenhanded" approach to Israel, a statement that has troubled many Jewish activists.

Cummings said last week that he has not officially backed Dean because he is trying to allay concerns from Baltimore's influential Jewish leaders.

Art Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, told Cummings of his problems with Dean during a recent encounter.

"I said, 'There's a lot of questions in the Jewish community about Dean,'" Abramson said.

Asked if Dean deserves the backing of Jewish leaders, Baltimore developer David Cordish said: "He definitely does not, and you can quote me."

Cummings contacted the Dean campaign and got former Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman, a top aide to Dean, to call Abramson.

But the outreach hasn't worked yet, leaving Cummings in an uncomfortable position as he balances the prestige that his national position could bring the Dean campaign with the sentiments of important backers in his district.

Duncan sounds off on slots, tax increases

[SJackson]

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Hoyer strives to keep Jewish vote for Dems

[mhking]

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[governsleastgovernsbest]

There's some kind of error in the story. It says that "Dean'scomments about Israel are delaying a much-anticipated endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus chairman."

But the rest of the article seems to indicate that it was Dean's comments about Southern guys with Confederate decals that caused the problem.

[JustPiper]

I'm still steamed Gorp decided to use Harlem as his base for spewing

[GraniteStateConservative]

No, it says that liberal Dem Jews in Cummings' district are telling him to not support Dean strongly because they don't like Dean because of Dean's stands on Israel.