"The Democratic base is furious like hell": the message of love of Cory Booker falls flat

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Senator Cory Booker appealed to the White House in February on a message of love and unity, posing as an inspiring leader who would help a polarized America find a piece of land d & # 39; agreement.

Ten weeks later, Booker discovers that until now, love is not enough.

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Single-digit survey and bottlenecks in fundraising, Booker attempted this week to revive his campaign by launching a two-week national "Justice for All" tour focused on economic policy proposals and messages of social justice. In Iowa, he presented a broad proposal for a new income tax credit and spoke of the need to invest in rural infrastructure. In Georgia, he unveiled a voting rights plan, pledging to make election day a national holiday and talked about returning the franchise to ex-criminals.

Recent moves are aimed at reviving a presidential candidacy that has overwhelmed some Democrats who wonder if Booker's message resonates in Trump's time.

Booker launched his presidential candidacy on Feb. 1, saying the country's next leader must find ways to reunite a country still divided. Booker, who often refers to Martin Luther King Jr., defines his candidacy as a bid to bring back civic grace and discourse, claiming that political tribalism in America is so profound "we can not even do the things on which we agree. "

"At the moment, what the country needs is not people who are running the race, nor a party that will show the worst of what they are, not when they go low, we go lower, not to fight the fire with the fire "a recent stop of the campaign in Iowa.

It's a difficult platform to execute, said Sean Bagniewski, president of Polk County Democrats. He said that Booker's message was "compelling", but it comes at a political moment when the party is thirsty for candidates to prove that they can defeat President Donald Trump.

"The Democratic base is furious and we are fighting to save our lives," said Bagniewski. "That's what I feel every day. Primary voters are angry and they want to fight. "

In an Iowa City Hall this week, a potential caucus member commented on Booker 's approach by telling him that "even if we love your message of love," he said. tackling issues such as climate change "must be our first priority".

Even the senator acknowledged that he was misunderstood by his messages.

"It's not a strategy to win, Cory. You fight against Donald Trump. How will you win? "Booker said people would ask him. "And I say," please, I'm the guy who beat this machine in Newark, New Jersey. ""

Booker told the crowd in Iowa that he thought the election was to be about something other than Trump's ouster from the White House.

"We have a choice in this election. Make sure there's a guy and an election and just get rid of him? I understand this call, but it must be something bigger than that, "said Booker. "We, Democrats, in this room, it's not enough to beat the Republicans, no. It's a moral moment in our country where we have to bring the Americans together. "

A survey conducted in March in Focus University on Rural America in Iowa confirms Booker's premise: 50% of those surveyed said it was "absolutely essential" that one candidate for 2020 is "someone who can address the racial, ethnic and partisan divide in our country".

However, as he enters the second quarter of the most populous and diverse Democratic presidential primary in his history, Booker discovers that the skills he's long exploited as a speaker with the flair of a mayor to establish a human link so far has not been enough to break up. through. In addition to many other US Senators in the race, new faces such as former Texas representative Beto O'Rourke and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are deploying similar commercial features to dazzle future voters.

So far, according to polls, O'Rourke and Buttigieg rank above Booker, who also ranks as the leading candidates in the race, including former vice president Joe Biden , meaning. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.

The $ 5 million raised by Booker during the first quarter raised funds at the lower end of the vast Democratic field. Although, according to his election campaign, his polls qualify him for the national debate, he is late in the fundraising contest of modest value the campaigns of his competitors.

Keeping this in mind, Booker turned to a more restrictive program in terms of policies during his two-week tour across the country, which will take him to the first presidential states and to the South.

At an event that took place on tax day, in Iowa, Booker opened an expansive income tax credit, offering to increase the credit 25% earned income tax, in order to reach a larger number of people.

"We should have the largest increase in the earned income tax credit, and that's what I'm proposing, ensuring that everyone who works comes back from the government – if you make more than $ 50,000 a year, or if you & # 39; As a couple, $ 90,000 a year, you will get a tax credit in this country, "he said. Then he kindly attacked the crowd for not reacting. "And by the way, before you even applaud, let me tell you," he laughs.

Even as Booker sought to revitalize himself in Iowa, he was eclipsed by Buttigieg, whose unexpected rise drew one of the largest gatherings of Democratic 2020 candidates heading to the country's first state.

"I think novelty is one of them. We have many excellent candidates in the field who are quite well known. Pete boiled because he was new and different. But also his attitude, he is very cold, has a great sense of humor but he is very competent, "said Vanessa Phelan, president of the Northwest Des Moines Democratic Party.

Phelan noted that while the Buttigieg crowd was impressive, she saw many of the same people attending events for the 2020 candidates while they are still shopping around. When asked if the Democrats wanted to hear Booker's message of love and unity, she said yes, but that they wanted more.

"What we all really want is for the presidency to change hands," she said. "I think there is space for this message but I do not know if it sounds."