Obama ne Harlem kerkoi ndihmen e liderit te afriokane amerikaneve Sharpton

 
 
President Obama yesterdays in Harlem, looks for help in 2012 reelection  
bid, to Rev. Al Sharpton 


  
President Obama will speak Wednesday in New  York at event hosted by the 
Rev. Al Sharpton. 

 
 
 
President Obama is making his second visit to the city in as  many weeks - 
and is calling upon an unlikely ally to shore up the support of his  
political base.
Obama will be speaking Wednesday for the first time as  commander in chief 
at the annual convention of the National Action Network and  standing with 
its founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton - whom the President largely  ignored 
before his 2008 election.
The symbolic speech at the Sheraton in midtown - coming just  days after 
the President held two events in Harlem - indicates that Obama, who  is 
battling slipping poll numbers, is trying to bolster his standing among  
African-Americans, political scientists said.
"It proves again that 2012 will be very different than 2008,"  said Larry 
Sabato of the University of Virginia. "Then, Obama was very wary of  the race 
issue and of being labeled as a 'black candidate.'"
"But some of the enthusiasm surrounding that election has  faded," said 
Sabato. "He needs an injection of energy and Sharpton can provide  some of 
that, at least in the black community."
Obama and Sharpton have always been uneasy  partners.
Sharpton - whose own political campaigns were defined by racial  issues - 
initially questioned the Illinois senator's qualifications, and at  first 
seemed inclined to support Hillary Clinton.
Obama spoke to the National Action Network in 2007. Although  Obama often 
seemed to hold the Harlem icon at arm's length, he has consulted  with 
Sharpton more frequently in recent years.
"The men will both benefit from the meeting," said political  consultant 
Hank Sheinkopf.
"This shows clout and power for Sharpton," Sheinkopf said, "and  for Obama 
the message he's sending is clear: 'I'm African-American, I'm  protecting my 
base, and AlSharpton is going to help me do it.'"
"Obama knows he's going to need the minority voter and the  liberal white 
voter to turn out in big numbers if he has a real opponent next  November," 
he said.
Obama, who officially announced his reelection bid this week,  will likely 
win the vast majority of the African-American vote, but political  
strategists see the Harlem events and the National Action Network speech as a  way to 
inspire turnout.
"Obama needed four out of 10 white votes in 2008, so he had to  strike a 
different tone [than Sharpton] and form a different coalition," said  Sabato.
"But he can't forget this part of his constituency either,"  Sabato said. 
"He may not need the base in 2012, but he doesn't want to take any  chances. 
He doesn't want to look back and say 'If only I had met with Al  Sharpton.'"