When
the Democrats Debate in South Carolina, Everybody Will Listen
By
Leroy Jones, Jr.
Political Commentator & Columnist
As
we begin to prepare for the first Democratic Presidential
Debate in South Carolina this week, it will be interesting
to follow how the dynamics of this race have begun to shift.
Clearly,
Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) and her campaign have been surprised
by the enthusiasm and groundswell of support for Senator Barack
Obama, Jr. (IL) thus far. The country as a whole has been
caught off guard by the excitement that his effort has generated.
The
moves by Senator Clintons' camp to bring “old school”
political gurus like Harold Ickes back into the fold, make
it very clear that there is real concern within in her campaign
to make sure she is able to get her message out effectively
and clearly to all of the Democratic Party. This first debate
will be key in defining her differences with not only Sen.
Obama, but with all the other candidates.
Senator
Obama, the $25 Million Dollar Man, is riding a wave
of excitement that has not been seen in recent times
in American politics. His fundraising efforts aside,
his campaign has brought an air of energy to the race
that has been lacking in our political process. Sen.
Obama has the opportunity in this first debate to begin
addressing the issues confronting our nation and how
he would tackle them as President. This will be his
time to showcase his depth of knowledge on the issues
and how he stacks up against all of the other candidates.
As far as the other candidates, former Senator John
Edwards (NC), Governor Bill Richardson (NM), Senators
Chris Dodd (CT) and Joe Biden (DE), Rep. Dennis Kucinich
(OH), and former Senator Mike Gravel (AK), will all
have the opportunity to break out and begin the process
of pushing their campaigns into the spotlight, which
constantly shines only on Clinton and Obama.
The most interesting factor surrounding this debate
will be about the one person who will not be attending.
The status of former Vice-President of the United States,
Al Gore and the rumblings that he may jump into the
race, continue to pound away at the surface of this
campaign. Does he have the fire in his belly to get
back into the fray? Many folks are still angry with
Mr. Gore for what they saw as a lack of backbone in
not fighting harder during the election dispute with
now, President George W. Bush in 2000. In 2008, is he
now ready to claim the prize he thought was stolen from
him?
The fact that the first debate will be held in South
Carolina at South Carolina State University, which is
a Historically Black College and University (HBCU),
should not be lost on the candidates and those who are
watching. Although the debate will not focus specifically
on issues that affect the African American community,
its location as the staging of the first Democratic
Presidential debate defines the importance and influence
of the African American vote and its leadership. This
leadership includes but is not limited to Majority Whip
Rep. James Clyburn (SC), a graduate of South Carolina
State University; CBC Chairperson Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick
(MI), House Ways & Means Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel
(NY), and House Judiciary Chairman Rep. John Conyers
(MI), among others.
On that night in South Carolina it will be time for
all of the candidates and their campaigns to start sharing
their vision for our communities and our nation. Once
again, “enough about the sizzle, where's the steak?”.
Leroy
Jones, Jr., is the creator of PoliticalJones.com
and a Political Commentator and Government Affairs Consultant
based in Washington, D.C. He is a regularly scheduled
guest on "The
Right Side with Shelley Wynter" daily radio
show on WAOK-1380 AM (Atlanta/CBS), XM Satellite Radio,
Blacknews.com and various other media outlets. Email
Mr. Jones at ljones@politicaljones.com
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