Despite a history of controversial statements, Barron’s supporters are fiercely loyal. Top Dems scramble to stop Barron

Prominent New York Democrats have belatedly come to realize something the Hakeem Jeffries campaign already knew: Former Black Panther and New York City Councilman Charles Barron is a formidable opponent.

And now, the rush is on to stop him. Whether it’s too little, too late — or whether Barron turns out to be less of a threat to win than his antagonists feared — will become clear Tuesday night in New York’s primary.


For the past decade, as a New York City councilman, Barron has represented about a quarter of the new 8th Congressional District. And in a previous run for the House seat, he received about 37 percent of the vote. Despite a long history of making controversial statements about whites, Jews and homosexuals, Barron’s supporters are fiercely loyal to him.

Press reports have described the campaign as “surging,” and the possibility that low voter turnout will play to Barron’s benefit has raised the blood pressure of the Democratic establishment.

“We always have taken Charles Barron seriously,” said Jeffries spokeswoman Lupe Todd. “What I don’t agree with is the notion that he is surging; there’s just no evidence of it.”

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel; both of the state’s senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are just the latest Democratic heavyweights to throw their support behind Jeffries. It’s hard to tell if there’s a reason for them to be worried: There’s been no independent polling in the district, and Jeffries, a New York assemblyman, has raised $770,445 to Barron’s $113,640 — two-fifths of Barron’s total is from himself.

“It’s really become a race to watch, because it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen,” said Doug Muzzio, a political analyst and professor of public affairs at Baruch College, although he still thinks Jeffries will win. “Barron has been a prominent voice for the African-American community and has a lot of support, but the key question is do people think he’ll be effective in Washington?”

Much of the movement against Barron stems from his past incendiary rhetoric. He once called the Israeli government “the biggest terrorist in the world,” and he has likened the situation in Gaza to a “concentration death camp.” He has praised Muammar Qadhafi as a “freedom fighter” and brought Zimbabwe’s controversial President Robert Mugabe to New York City Hall.

These days, though, Barron doesn’t want to talk about any of that. “I’ve said what I have to say,” Barron responded Friday when asked about his comments.

If Barron was looking to move beyond the controversy, an endorsement last week from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke didn’t help.

“The possible election of a dedicated anti–Zionist to the U.S. Congress has thrown the Zionist influenced media and the Zio-political establishment into a tizzy,” Duke said, referring to Barron in a bizarre video.

Barron dismissed the Duke endorsement, the New York Daily News reported.

“We’re staying focused — and we demand respect for our campaign,” Barron told the paper. “I don’t think that’s a campaign issue. I don’t think it’s intelligent.”

Even if it’s hard to gauge who will win Tuesday, Jewish leaders and officials in the community don’t want to take any chances. The newly drawn district could be a problem for Barron because it includes places like Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park and Brighton Beach — home to large Russian and Jewish communities.

The National Jewish Democratic Council PAC sent out an email appeal titled An Anti-Semite Looms in Brooklyn. Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and state Assemblyman Dov Hikind have all denounced Barron and urged voters to come out against him on Tuesday.

Barron, however, told POLITICO he’s been “very well-received” in heavily Jewish parts of the district “where they may not have known me.”

While Jeffries is winning the endorsement and fundraising races overwhelmingly, his campaign is forging full speed ahead with nonstop canvassing and media events until the polls close.

“People are coming in off the street wanting to help out,” Todd said. “This race was always going to be tough, but we’re ready for it.”

But as the movement to stop Barron reaches a fever pitch, the city councilman’s supporters took to the steps of City Hall last week to call for an end to the “smear campaign” they say is being waged against Barron.

“Charles Barron has been our friend, has fought for public higher education [and] has been by our side,” said Tami Gold, a professor. “The smear campaign is only because politicians are afraid when they see somebody like Charles Barron speak up, … we have to counter these attacks.”

Alex Isenstadt contributed to this report.

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