Cory Booker may be an active (and well-liked) member of the Congressional Black Caucus, but its members aren’t rushing to support his hypothetical presidential bid just yet. Part of the reason, undoubtedly, is that Booker has yet to officially announce his entrée, or even the formation of an exploratory committee. But there’s another factor giving them pause: Booker isn’t the only charismatic, high-profile African-American colleague jockeying for their support. “Senator [Kamala] Harris and I talked about the possibility of an endorsement,” Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio told Politico, adding that she’s “thinking very, very strongly” about backing Harris.

Other members of the C.B.C. have said that they, too, have been approached by both Harris and Booker. “I’ve talked to Booker and I’ve talked to Kamala,” said Representative Jim Clyburn. Former C.B.C. chairman G.K. Butterfield told Politico he spoke with Harris over the holidays, and is in “constant talks” with Booker, who hasn’t openly discussed his own candidacy, but has stressed “the importance of getting the right nominee.” (Butterfield said he is “in a wait-and-see mode to see if [Booker’s] going to announce.”)

View more

For now, any rifts are well hidden as C.B.C. members work to remain neutral: “I think it’s awesome we have so many amazing choices,” Alabama Representative Terri Sewell told the Hill. But the genteel face-off will likely turn contentious once Democrats hit the campaign trail. Clyburn disclosed that fault lines have already been drawn: “I know who’s for Biden, who’s for Booker, who’s for [Harris],” he said, confirming that former Vice President Joe Biden is putting out feelers as well.

There’s good reason for the early jockeying. Next year, more than ever, minority voters will play a crucial role in determining primary outcomes, and an endorsement from a member of the C.B.C., who presumably has deep ties to predominantly African-American districts in their state, will be profoundly useful. For now, momentum appears to be in Harris’s favor—after her early announcement, she’s polling ahead of Booker, and she’s amassed a small fortune in small-dollar fund-raising. Her recent televised town-hall appearance drew a crowd of 20,000, not to mention record ratings for CNN and favorable comparisons to Barack Obama’s announcement.

Whether Harris can maintain that momentum is an open question; after all, the Iowa caucuses are still more than a year away. Should Booker enter the race, operatives suggested to my colleague Chris Smith, his improbable but authentic résumé—including a series of heroic feats in his hometown of Newark—may give him an edge. “People may view some of the things he does as flashy, but they are effective and genuine,” a Booker ally said, noting that his real talents may emerge once he begins campaigning in key primary states. “He moved into the hood when he got into the city council. He moved into the violent part of the city when he became mayor,” C.B.C. member Cedric Richmond told the Hill. “Cory has always been connected with the inner city and didn’t run from it as he got more and more successful, and I don’t know if Kamala did or not. . . . But I think that would play very well for people who are still living in the inner cities who are struggling.”

More Great Stories from Vanity Fair

— The leaking, gossiping, and infighting that made Kellyanne Conway a formidable White House player

— Why old news habits must die—so that real journalism can live

— Nancy Pelosi is America’s most powerful power-suit boss

— Is Kamala Harris the 2020 candidate to beat?

— Your passport to Vanity Fair’s 25th Hollywood Issue with Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Chadwick Boseman, and more

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hive newsletter and never miss a story.