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Candidate Bio
On the Issues
Al Sharpton
SNAPSHOT
Al Sharpton was one of only two candidates not named Kerry still in the race by the time Democrats held their national convention in Boston in July 2004. But he pulled out of the race, and was given a prime-time speaking role. Taking 20 minutes to speak, when he was given only 6, Sharpton electrified the delegates with a spirited rebuke of President George W. Bush, in what was a carefully scripted convention that sought to avoid direct attacks on Bush. Hardly a word about Al Sharpton has been written in the mainstream media without "controversial" being placed before his name. Critics say he's little more than a publicity seeker who straddles the line of right and wrong. Time magazine says Sharpton views the campaign as his chance to displace Rev. Jesse Jackson as the icon of black leadership in America. He's a liberal Democrat who thinks the party's move to the center has come at the expense of the poor and minorities. He first gained national attention in the 1980s for defending Tawanna Brawley, who claimed to the victim of a racial attack. It turned out to be a hoax. Past political aspirations were muted by the 2002 HBO airing of a film showing Sharpton allegedly aggreeing to participate in money laundering for illegal, Mafia-connected cocaine deals; a tape which Sharpton said was an FBI set-up. Standing room only crowd greets Dean in Fargo The man some call the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, visited Fargo on Monday night. Howard Dean's visit came on the heels of a campaign stop Sunday by Dick Gephardt. (01/06/2004) Democratic presidential candidates debate Seven of the nine democratic presidential candidates debated in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday night in the first official event of the election year. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was sharply criticized by his rivals on taxes, health care, and terrorism. Drake University political scientist Dennis Goldford discusses presidential politics. ( 01/05/2004) Gephardt tells growers he's top candidate to change trade policy Democratic presidential hopeful Richard Gephardt said he's the best candidate to change trade policy, telling a group of Red River Valley sugar beet growers that a new deal with Central America would hurt family farms. (01/04/2004) Rivals target front-runner Dean in first debate of the election year In a feisty, first debate of the election year, Howard Dean drew fire from fellow Democrats on Sunday over trade, terror and taxes, then calmly dismissed his rivals as "co-opted by the agenda of George Bush." (01/04/2004) John Edwards on foreign policy and the 2004 election Democractic presidential candidate, Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, speaking at the Commonwealth Club of California. He discusses the Bush administration's foreign policy and the type of leader he says the United States needs in 2004. ( 12/18/2003) Howard Dean on foreign relations and national security Monday's major foreign policy address by the leading Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. He spoke to the Pacific Council in Los Angeles, California. ( 12/16/2003) Rivals gang up on Dean, Gore in debate dominated by endorsement Eight of the Democratic presidential candidates ganged up on front-runner Howard Dean and former Vice President Al Gore, hoping to take the luster off Gore's newly minted endorsement of Dean. (12/10/2003) Local political leaders selecting presidential favorites The 2004 presidential election is still 11 months away, but the presidential campaign is well underway in Minnesota. Three Democratic candidates recently kicked off their Minnesota campaigns, and some are mobilizing Minnesotans to travel to Iowa in advance of next month's caucuses. Meantime, Republicans are working to sign up a record number of Minnesota volunteers for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign. (12/09/2003) The 2004 race for president President Bush is stepping up the pace this week, packing in four sessions with wealthy Republican donors in as many states. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates are building their paid staffs and paying frequent visits to Wisconsin, before the Wisconsin primary in two months. ( 12/01/2003) Bush TV ad answers criticism over Iraq Democrats are reacting strongly to an ad running in the crucial early election state of Iowa that talks about Bush's stand on the war on terrorism and Iraq. The ad, sponsored by the Republican National Committee, signals a strategy for addressing criticism of the administration's efforts in the Middle East. ( 11/25/2003) Gephardt, Kerry take shots at Dean policies on health care in Democratic debate Rep. Dick Gephardt and Democratic rival Howard Dean intensified their war of words on Monday, attacking each others' records in the latest in a series of Democratic debates. (11/24/2003) Clark stumps in Upper Midwest Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark was in the Twin Cities this weekend to raise money for his campaign. Clark is one of nine candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. Observers say coming to Minnesota when most candidates are stumping for the nation's first primary in New Hampshire, sends a signal Clark is in the campaign for the long haul. (11/23/2003) Dean forgoes federal campaign financing Howard Dean says he can run his presidential campaign more effectively without public financing. He's the first Democratic contender to say that -- but will he be the last? What does his decision mean for the campaign finance reform movement and political campaigns in the future? ( 11/11/2003) Who is Howard Dean? In a major boost to his campaign, Democrat Howard Dean is getting a prized presidential endorsement from one of the nation's largest unions. The endorsement by the Service Employees International Union, which has 1.6 million members, is to be announced Thursday. Also, under pressure from friends and foes alike, Dean apologized for urging Democrats to court Southern whites who display Confederate flags on their pickup trucks. We discuss Dean's campaign and message. ( 11/06/2003) Dean regrets pain of Confederate flag remark Howard Dean said Wednesday he regretted the pain he caused by saying that the Democratic Party must court Southerners who display the symbol of the Confederacy in their pickup trucks. (11/05/2003) More News & Features
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