Regarding a Democratic-primary rematch in the 3rd Senate District, which encompasses three Eastern North Carolina counties, I restate my original question from two years ago: is it really OK for a political candidate to base his campaign around an explicit appeal to race?
Former Rep. Shelly Willingham, who is black, is challenging two-term incumbent Sen. Clark Jenkins, who is white. The vast majority of Democrats in this safely Democratic seat are black. Willingham?s argument, in part, has been that the district should have a senator that is more reflective of its population, regarding race and class.
It didn?t work last time. I doubt it will work this time, but a failed political tactic can still be a harmful political tactic.
