JEFFRIES
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Trying to prevent a national “embarrassment,” New York’s Democratic Party heavyweights are pulling out the stops to block bombastic Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron from being elected to Congress.
Gov. Cuomo and Sen. Charles Schumer have led the pack in backing state Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries over Barron in the open-seat Demcratic primary tomorrow to replace Rep. Edolphus Towns, who announced his retirement.
Barron is popular in his district for helping needy constituents and fighting City Hall. But the charismatic pol, an ex-Black Panther, has outraged many by describing dictators, such as late Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy as “heroes,” and likening the Israelis to Nazis.
Barron has also declared that he wanted to “slap” a white person “for my mental health,” while calling for reparations for slavery.
The last thing Cuomo — who many believe has White House hopes — wants is a New York congressman making divisive statements in the House, sources said.
“I don’t believe that’s going to happen,” Cuomo said of a Barron victory, while marching yesterday in the Gay Pride parade.
“I believe Hakeem Jeffries is going to win because I believe the district wants someone who’s a tenacious advocate, which is what Hakeem Jeffries is.”
Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel said a Barron victory would be “an embarrassment to the party, to the Congress and to the country.”
Barron — who received a surprise endorsement from Towns as well as District Council 37 and the Sierra Club — agreed that the Democratic power brokers are “panicking” that he might win.
“It’s the establishment versus the people. I’m with the people,” he said.
“Not one person on the campaign trail mentioned my [controversial] statements. They care about foreclosure, poverty, health care, pensions, Social Security and Medicaid,” Barron said.