The IP vote for Bloomberg on Column "C" was the highest mayoral vote on a minor party line in 40 years and double the vote total from four years ago. Minor party cross-endorsements have been crucial in New York City mayoral contests for 60 years, as they give candidates a way to broaden their appeal and voters a way to make a statement about their own political agenda. As one political old hand put it, the IP numbers "reflect rising disillusionment with the major parties." They also, as this commentator noted, were a sign of "the desire of many voters to support Bloomberg but not to identify themselves with Republicans." Obviously, many of the voters in question here are Democrats.
Use the above link to read the op-ed (pdf) from the Amsterdam News by Dr. Lenora Fulani, a founder of the Independence Party and the country's leading black independent. She hosts a monthly meeting in Harlem entitled "Conversations with a Black Independent."
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us 
No comments:
Post a Comment