Elizabeth Warren taps Ayanna Pressley as one of three campaign co-chairs

Elizabeth Warren has tapped U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley as one of her presidential campaign co-chairs, introducing an all-female trio of surrogates — two of them minorities — that pundits say could help the Massachusetts senator win over more women and people of color.

Pressley, the first black woman elected to serve Massachusetts in Congress, joins fellow freshmen U.S. Reps. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), a Pueblo woman and the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a state party, and Katie Porter (D-Calif.).

“It’s a very clear message when you pick women of color that women of color are top of mind to your campaign,” said Democratic strategist Scott Ferson.

It’s a message Warren needs to send as the primary contest shifts from Iowa and New Hampshire — where she polls well — to Nevada and South Carolina, where former Vice President Joe Biden leads the field by a wide margin and enjoys strong support particularly among black voters.

“Warren needs all the help she can get in South Carolina,” said Democratic strategist Dan Payne.

South Carolina currently stands as the “Biden Firewall,” said Todd Belt, director of the George Washington University political management program — a state where Biden “thinks he can make a strong showing” should he falter in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“Biden is the one who has the credibility in South Carolina with the black clergy and black voters in general down there,” Belt said. “The other candidates are looking at a way to break through that.”

Belt said Pressley can help bring Warren credibility with the black community and help the senator translate how her platform can benefit people of color — giving her a boost at a time Democrats fear they don’t have a candidate capable of rallying the Obama coalition to take back the White House.

Pressley stepped up big for Warren on Thursday in Atlanta, quelling a group of pro-charter school protesters who interrupted the senator as she delivered a speech championing black women activists and linking racism to the broken systems she’s built her campaign around fixing.

She also brings a burst of youth and enthusiasm after the other minority congresswoman that comprise her “squad” — U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — endorsed rival progressive U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“It’s setting up for the longer game,” Belt said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2O9L3f0