Gore's New York campaign office.
As for the potential problems a
Sharpton-Gore relationship could
cause among Jewish voters, Ragone
said, "The vice president's record on
issues of concern to the Jewish com-
munity speaks for itself His relation-
ship with the Jewish community is
strong."
Both campaigns have a number of
well-known African-American leaders
who serve in an advisory or supportive
role. A number of New York minis-
ters, as well as Harvard professor
Cornel West, are assisting Bradley, and
former New York City Mayor David
Dinkins and Rep. Charles Rangel CD-
N.Y.) work with the Gore campaign.
Ira Forman, executive director of
the National Jewish Democratic
Council, called the issue of Sharpton's
influence a "non-story" and said
Sharpton is not an insider in either
the Gore or Bradley campaigns.
Many Jews still recall how nine
years ago Sharpton spurred on the
Crown Heights riots, which erupted
after a black child was killed by a
Jewish motorcade. Sharpton led
protests through the Jewish section of
Crown Heights. Days later, a Jewish
student was killed by a mob.
Four years later; Sharpton picket-
ed a Jewish-owned department store
in Harlem because it was evicting a
nearby black-owned business.
Following months of violence a pro-
tester entered the store, shot and
killed several employees, and set the
building on fire.
Why, then, do the candidates go
after Sharpton's support?
Because despite the well-publicized
incidents, which harmed black-Jewish
relations, Sharpton remains for the-
black community the activist who can
voice their concerns and bring their
problems to national attention like no
other leader.
The dilemma that the candidates
face is whether they can win the trust
and votes of the black community in
New York without Sharpton's support.
A recent poll of black voters in
New York shows Gore leading Bradley
by 55 to 29 percent.
As it gets closer to New York's pri-
mary, perhaps the real question is
how much of a factor Al Sharpton
will be in voters' minds on Tuesday,
March 7. Mark Mellman, a
Democratic consultant and pollster,
thinks people will take notice of a
candidate's record and not a candi-
date's relationship with Sharpton. "It
won't make any difference in the
race," Mellman predicted. ❑

at AUDETTE CADILLAC

Stock #X2406

* Plus tax, title & license, 36 mo./12,000 miles per year on approved GMAC credit. All rebates to dealer. Must be currently leasing a Cadillac.
Expires 3/31/00.

•

T.

* Plus tax, title & license, 36 mo./12,000 miles per year on approved GMAC credit. All rebates to dealer. Must be currently leasing a Cadillac.
Expires 3/31/00.

AUDETTE IS THE DEAL MAKERS HEADQUARTERS!

AUDETTE

(248) 851-7200

INC.

7100 Orchard Lake Road (at 14 1/2 Mile) ■ West Bloomfield
Open: Mon. & Thurs. till 9 pm ■ Tues., Wed., Fri., till 6 pm

ade e ee-ee

especiaize ereeetiaty ertesionteP expecitttioney..

3/3

2000

27