Sanders meets Sharpton in wake of New Hampshire victory

Following his resounding win in the New Hampshire primary, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders met Wednesday with civil rights activist Al Sharpton as he seeks to woo the crucial black vote. Sharpton will have breakfast with Democratic Presidential candidate, Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Sanders, who won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, has received several prominent African American endorsements including former NAACP leader Ben Jealous.

Sharpton said the meeting with Sanders is not an endorsement, and said all candidates have work to do if they want to lock up the black vote. Barack Obama sat down with the preacher in 2008-Sanders is sending a message to Clinton forces: “Don’t sleep”.

“I think that they have dealt with the reality that if people are going to address issues they will have to address them with the people involved in the issues”, Sharpton said.

“It will be very hard, if not impossible, for a Democrat to win the nomination without strong levels of support among African American and Hispanic voters”, Robby Mook, Clinton’s campaign manager, wrote in a Tuesday memo to reporters.

The two discussed affirmative action, police brutality and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. An NBC/Wall Street Journal Marist poll released in late January showed Sanders struggling to attract support among African-American voters in SC, garnering 17% compared to Clinton’s 74%. Bill Perkins, who both have already endorsed Sanders.

“This election is absolutely critical for our people”, Jealous said.

Michael Acosta, 27, a transit worker from Harlem who used his day off to try to catch a glimpse of Mr. Sanders, said his support of the senator was not shaped by race.

But the family is also close with the Clintons.

“I’m certain that the next candidate to come our way – her first name will start with an H and her last name will start with a C”, she added.