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Both frontrunners to lead the Democratic National Committee, Keith Ellison and Tom Perez, agreed to stay neutral in party primaries.
As the dust settles on a 2016 presidential primary where evidence of favoritism within the DNC drove a wedge into the party and cost it its chair, both candidates preached a hands-off approach on primaries.
But South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison bucked that idea, arguing that brutal primaries hurt Democrats' chances at winning races.
It's an easier pitch for Ellison, who is the favorite of the progressive wing that is restless about potential primary challenges against establishment Democrats who are backing some of President Trump's priorities. But it's a tougher spot for Perez, who has more support among the establishment wing that worries tough primaries could hurt the party's chances in general elections.
"The role of the DNC chair is let the process run its course and we move forward when the general election moves ahead," Perez said.
Ellison, a former top surrogate for Bernie Sanders's presidential bid, went a step further.
“The role of the DNC is to be neutral and fair to all primary contestants," he said.
"I will make a personal call and say, ‘Let’s not kill each other off guys,’ but I will not publicly shame any Democrat in a primary."
But while both Perez and Ellison said they'd support neutral primaries, Harrison took another route. Noting that Republicans need just seven more Senate seats in 2018's tough map for Democrats to reach a filibuster-proof majority, and control of one more state to call a constitutional convention, he argued that effort spent on primaries will only hurt the party in the fall.
“If Democrats want to be in a permanent minority, let’s spend all the time fighting each other. But if we want to fight against Donald Trump, then fight against Ted Cruz, fight against the Republicans who are up," he said.
"We don’t have the time or energy and all the people we are fighting for don’t have time for this purity test."
Leaked DNC emails from 2016 showed some party staffers supportive of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid while others went as far suggesting that news organizations look into potentially damaging stories for Sanders's campaign.
That led to resignations within the DNC, including then-Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a congresswoman from Florida.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaig...-agree-on-dnc-playing-neutral-role-in-primary
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- With tough races over, Bernie Sanders renews call for changes at DNC (November 9, 2017)
- Elizabeth Warren agrees DNC was 'rigged' in Clinton's favor (Nov 3, 2017)
- Progressives fear DNC's choice of Perez means party hasn't learned lesson (February 27, 2017)
- Tom Perez’s biggest problem as DNC chair: His backers (February 27, 2017)
- New DNC chairman Tom Perez ridicules Trump tweet over 'rigged' vote (Feb. 26, 2017)
- Enjoying President Trump? Then Blame Democrats For Cheating Bernie Sanders
- How Perez edged Ellison for DNC chair (02/25/17)
- DNC candidate Harrison drops out, backs Perez for chairman (02/23/17)
- DNC Chair Candidates Debate: Was the 2016 Primaries Rigged? (Feb 23, 2017)
Tom Perez and Keith Ellison think the DNC should stay neutral in the Primary
South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison disagrees
By Ben Kamisar - 02/22/17
South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison disagrees
By Ben Kamisar - 02/22/17
Both frontrunners to lead the Democratic National Committee, Keith Ellison and Tom Perez, agreed to stay neutral in party primaries.
As the dust settles on a 2016 presidential primary where evidence of favoritism within the DNC drove a wedge into the party and cost it its chair, both candidates preached a hands-off approach on primaries.
But South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison bucked that idea, arguing that brutal primaries hurt Democrats' chances at winning races.
It's an easier pitch for Ellison, who is the favorite of the progressive wing that is restless about potential primary challenges against establishment Democrats who are backing some of President Trump's priorities. But it's a tougher spot for Perez, who has more support among the establishment wing that worries tough primaries could hurt the party's chances in general elections.
"The role of the DNC chair is let the process run its course and we move forward when the general election moves ahead," Perez said.
Ellison, a former top surrogate for Bernie Sanders's presidential bid, went a step further.
“The role of the DNC is to be neutral and fair to all primary contestants," he said.
"I will make a personal call and say, ‘Let’s not kill each other off guys,’ but I will not publicly shame any Democrat in a primary."
But while both Perez and Ellison said they'd support neutral primaries, Harrison took another route. Noting that Republicans need just seven more Senate seats in 2018's tough map for Democrats to reach a filibuster-proof majority, and control of one more state to call a constitutional convention, he argued that effort spent on primaries will only hurt the party in the fall.
“If Democrats want to be in a permanent minority, let’s spend all the time fighting each other. But if we want to fight against Donald Trump, then fight against Ted Cruz, fight against the Republicans who are up," he said.
"We don’t have the time or energy and all the people we are fighting for don’t have time for this purity test."
Leaked DNC emails from 2016 showed some party staffers supportive of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid while others went as far suggesting that news organizations look into potentially damaging stories for Sanders's campaign.
That led to resignations within the DNC, including then-Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a congresswoman from Florida.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaig...-agree-on-dnc-playing-neutral-role-in-primary
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