Sanders courts US black vote after New Hampshire win

US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders courted the African-American vote yesterday after thrashing former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary election and giving his anti-establishment campaign a major lift.
Civil rights leader reverend Al Sharpton met Sanders, a democratic socialist and US senator from Vermont, for breakfast at a restaurant in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood.
It was an attempt to chip away at Clinton’s strong support from African-American voters, who will be crucial at the next Democratic primary, in South Carolina on February 27.
The two men hugged when they met outside Sylvia’s soul food restaurant then sat alone for breakfast at a table near the window. They left a short time later.
Sharpton and Barack Obama met at the same restaurant during the then-candidate’s 2008 successful presidential campaign - a piece of symbolism for Sanders as he tries to connect with minority voters. The election on November 8 is followed by the inauguration of Obama’s successor early next year.
“My concern is that in January of next year for the first time in American history a black family will be moving out of the White House. I do not want black concerns to be moved out with them. We must be front and center and not marginalised. And senator Sanders coming here this morning further makes it clear that we will not be ignored,” Sharpton, a Baptist minister and television talk show host, told reporters afterwards.
Sanders coasted to victory in Tuesday’s primary on a wave of voter anger at traditional US politicians. New York billionaire Donald Trump swept the Republican contest in the same state.
The results testified to the sizable share of American voters upset at US economic conditions and willing to send a shockwave to Washington.
Young voters in New Hampshire liked Sanders’ populist proposals to break up big banks and have the government pay for free college tuition. But he might struggle to win support from Democrats outside liberal northeastern states.
Sanders said late on Tuesday that his victory over Clinton, a former first lady, showed “we have sent the message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington, from Maine to California, and that is that the government of our great country belongs to all of the people and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors”.
Clinton now looks wounded. She trailed Sanders by 60% to 38% in New Hampshire with 92% of precincts reporting.
In a school gymnasium in Concord, jubilant volunteers for Bernie Sanders could not contain their excitement over his double-digit victory in the New Hampshire primary -- and the tough battle ahead with Hillary Clinton.
“Bernie, Bernie, Bernie,” they screamed at the senator’s victory party late Tuesday, projecting an energy matched only by supporters of the night’s Republican winner, Donald Trump.
“Celebrate the Bern, baby!” said Sara Stuart, 56, a teaching assistant and local campaign volunteer covered in Bernie badges. “It is huge!”
Sanders won 60 percent of the Democratic vote compared to 38% for Clinton, the former secretary of state who commands one of the biggest political machines in the country.
Just months ago, the grumpy 74-year-old grandfather promising a “political revolution” was written off as a joke.
But a gathering grassroots campaign and message of addressing profound inequality has stirred up liberal voters — and Sanders is giving Clinton a run for her money.
“It’s really history in the making,” said Eric Packer, 64, a Wall Street-trained investment adviser from Massachusetts who switched from backing Clinton in favour of Sanders last year.
“I think this helps to set the stage for the potential for Bernie to be taken more seriously.”
Exit polls showed Sanders beat Clinton among virtually every group — among women and men, in all age groups under 45, among those with and without college degrees, and among gun owners and non-gun owners.
Clinton was ahead only among whites, families earning over $200,000 a year and voters 65 and older, US media reported.
He appealed for unity within the Democratic party and urged Americans across socio-economic and ethnic groups to join the cause.
“It will bring together blacks and whites, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, straight and gay, male and female, people who were born in America and people who immigrated here,” he said.
It was an extraordinary moment for a campaign that pundits initially thought would barely dent a smooth cruise to a Clinton coronation.
But on Tuesday, in a state that chose her over the ultimately victorious Barack Obama in 2008, Clinton conceded defeat.
“I know I have some work to do, particularly with young people,” she said. “Even if they are not supporting me now, I support them.”
Although most analysts believe Clinton will secure the Democratic nomination thanks to support from the party establishment and ethnic minorities, Sanders is putting his Scandinavian-inspired anti-Wall Street, poverty-busting agenda on the map.
The Clinton campaign admitted that Sanders raised $5mn more than them last month, underlining his growing sway.
Sanders often extols the fact that more than one million Americans each donated on average $27, totalling $3.7mn.
His campaign has a popular winning slogan — “Feel the Bern” has been printed on countless T-shirts, badges, magnets and key rings.
The donations point to a grassroots popularity perhaps matched in this primary season by Trump, who packs thousands into big-venue rallies nationwide and who won the Republican New Hampshire primary.
“The people want real change,” said Sanders. “Together, we have sent the message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington, from Maine to California.”
The decisive test will come in Nevada and South Carolina, more racially diverse states in the west and south, where Clinton’s support among blacks and Latinos is expected to defeat Sanders this month.
“This was the first time that the movement actually spoke to me,” said Sarah Stevens, 28, a New Hampshire substitute teacher involved in politics for the first time, with her boyfriend.
“I do think he can go all the way. I think it comes with the momentum and educating people about what democratic socialism is.”
The Republican party establishment, who will have to contend with the dramatic win by their own usurper Trump, was quick to throw salt in Clinton’s wounds.
“The prospect that Democrats could nominate a self-avowed socialist is growing more probable by the day,” declared Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus.