Julin Castro: If Democrats Don't Elevate Voters of Color, 'Why Are We Democrats in the First Place"

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON — It’s not uncommon for struggling presidential candidates to blast their party’s nominating process, especially the decision to let Iowa and New Hampshire host the all-important opening two contests of the primary campaign.

The latest candidate to take aim at Iowa and New Hampshire — states with overwhelmingly white populations — is Julián Castro. The Texas Democrat and former Housing and Urban Development secretary has run one of the most progressive campaigns of any Democrat in the field. He released sweeping plans to tackle immigration and police brutality. He was the first candidate to visit Puerto Rico. And he’s built his message around elevating the voices of the marginalized and the poor, visiting homeless encampments in underground drainage tunnels in Las Vegas and touring a jail in Washington, D.C., to highlight criminal justice reform efforts.

Yet Castro, 45, has struggled to break out since he announced his presidential bid almost a year ago. He registered in the single digits in recent polls, announced a last-ditch fundraising blitz to keep his campaign running, and failed to qualify for the November debate. Despite saying in a fundraising email that missing the debate would mean the “end of my campaign,” Castro isn’t going away. And he’s taking aim at his own party.

Last week, Castro, the sole Latino in the 2020 Democratic field, railed against Iowa and New Hampshire’s coveted first and second slots on the primary calendar, calling it antiquated and out of sync with an increasingly diverse party. In a rare joint op-ed, the two chairmen of the Iowa Democratic and Republican parties fired back at Castro. “Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status isn’t about party affiliation or identity politics,” they wrote. “It’s about the uniqueness of retail politics, and its ability to get the future president to connect with Americans in a way few primaries can.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/julian-castro-iowa-caucus-new-hampshire-primary-913971/

[TidalWave46]

1. This isn't something I find myself railing against.

But it’s pretty messed up that our minority candidates have to face these states first. Seems like systemic oppression to me.

[StarfishSaver]

3. It wouldn't be so bad if those states weren't treated as "make or break"

But the fact that the Iowa and New Hampshire voters have such a disproportionate say in the future of all of the candidates in the primary make this extremely unfair.

[oldsoftie]

4. They DONT have a disproportionate say. Both rarely pick the eventual nominee.

And one of the few times they did it was Obama.
But everyone on the losing end of something always needs something else to blame it on

[StarfishSaver]

6. You need to check your electoral history before making claims about it.

Iowa and New Hampshire do indeed tend to pick the eventual nominee - nothing rare about it.

The winner of the Iowa caucuses went on to win the nomination in 7 of the last 9 primaries, beginning with Jimmy Carter in 1976. Five of the last 9 nominees carried New Hampshire. Only once in the last 43 years did the eventual nominee not win either Iowa or New Hampshire. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-much-do-iowa-and-new-hampshire-really-matter-for-2020/amp/

As I said, Iowa and New Hampshire have a disproportionate influence. Candidates who do well there get a boost. Those who do poorly are usually forever handicapped.

FYI, since I don't have a favorite candidate, your snide accusation doesn't apply to me

[oldsoftie]

12. No, my snide accusation was for the candidates , not you

And yes, my facts were wrong; from an incorrect site.
But Neither state delivers many delegates. What they DO deliver is media. So it really wouldnt matter WHICH state they were in. Nobody heard of Buttegeig, now he's winning Iowa. Biden isnt going to win Iowa, but he'll be far ahead by Super Tuesday.

[TidalWave46]

15. Agree. NT

[StarfishSaver]

2. He's absolutely right

[msongs]

5. Obama won Iowa. The wrong candidates will lose. nt

[StarfishSaver]

7. So, Obama's success there means that Iowa and New Hampshire are post-racial now?

What a relief!

[msongs]

8. it means that a POC candidate can win there nt

[StarfishSaver]

10. The fact that Obama won there does not mean that minority candidates no longer are at a disadvantage

[Blue_true]

11. Castro is struggling in Texas and New Mexico polls.

Maybe democratic primary voters are just not into him.

[onetexan]

13. Julian just needs more exposure & practice campaigning

Working on cohesive, simple messaging woupd also help. Good practice for future elections.

[BootinUp]

9. Julian and I have not hit it off

In terms of my interest in seeing him do well. I really think he’s turned out to be bottom tier worthy.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. Sorry, but I think JC sealed his fate when he went after Biden so condescendingly, implying...

that Biden was past it. He could have found many ways to take on Biden, but the snark got him some attention, but not the right kind. I once thought he'd be a great #2. Not so much anymore, but he's right about IA & NH.