Senator Cory Booker, the former mayor of Newark, New Jersey, has announced his candidacy for President.
Booker, 49, began his campaign this morning to become the second black president in American history, with grass roots support from across the country. As of now, he and Sen. Kamala Harris from California, seem to be most high profile Democratic candidates contesting.
Both are African Americans, which will divide the votes in the community.
Already Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, Sen. Kamala Harris from California, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand from New York and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii and Julián Castro from Texas, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary under President Barack Obama, have officially announced their candidacies. Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana too is running.
More are expected in the field, especially the presumed front runner, former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, Senator Amy Jean Klobuchar from Minnesota and former Representative Beto O’Rourke from Texas.
Many political pundits believe that ultimately Senator Klobuchar has a better chance to reach the Democratic ticket.
The affable Booker, in a morning email sent to supporters, drew on the spirit of the civil rights movement as he laid out his vision for a country that will ‘channel our common pain back into our common purpose,’ New York Times reported.
‘The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it,; Mr. Booker said in an accompanying video.
Booker, an attorney who studied in Stanford and Yale, was first elected to the City Council in Newark, ousting an incumbent Democrat.
In 2002, he contested for mayor, but failed. A documentary about his failed run, ‘Street Fight,; was nominated for an Oscar. In 2006 Booker became mayor of Newark, the largest city in New Jersey. He fought against crime and poverty in the city. He got support and money from Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, for development projects.
‘Booker’s gift for idealistic oratory made him an in-demand surrogate throughout his career and will likely help set him apart from the growing Democratic field.
But even with his unique mix of soaring crescendos and soft-spoken anecdotes, his unbridled optimism and appeals across party lines could fall flat in a Democratic electorate energized by seething anger toward President Trump and his agenda. Mr. Booker also has a lengthy record of moderate, pro-business stances that could be toxic for the party’s ascendant progressive wing,’ Times noted.
Stories of him shoveling out residents of Newark in snowstorms, rescuing a shivering dog or darting into a burning building to save his neighbor captured the imagination of the nation.
