Al Sharpton

The Reverend Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. (born October 3, 1954) is an American politician, minister, and civil rights activist. A Pentecostal, Sharpton was the first major black presidential candidate of the 21st century to run for the Democratic Party nomination, doing so in 2004.

Candidacies

Sharpton has run unsuccessfully for the United States Senate seat from New York in 1988, 1992, and 1994. In 1997 he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York City. Some have criticized Sharpton for only running races he knows he can't win while shunning those he could. He has never held elected office.

Related Topics:
United States Senate - New York - 1988 - 1992 - 1994 - 1997 - Mayor - New York City

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On January 5, 2003 Sharpton announced his candidacy for the 2004 presidential election as a member of the Democratic Party. Precisely one year later, days before the Iowa caucus, reports of connection between Sharpton's campaign management and entrenched Republican Party organizers surfaced.http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/barrett.phphttp://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/07/politics/campaign/07SHAR.html

Related Topics:
January 5 - 2003 - 2004 presidential election - Democratic Party - Republican Party

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Sharpton has been critical of the news media, charging it with ignoring his campaign due to deep-seated racial prejudice. http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/949475.asp?cp1=1

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Sharpton's platform includes 10 key issues:

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• Increase voter registration.
• Increase political consciousness and awareness.
• Stimulate more people to get involved in the political process.
• Raise issues that would otherwise be overlooked—for example, affirmative action and anti-death penalty policy.
• Strengthen our national security by fighting for human rights, the rule of law, and economic justice at home and abroad.
• Fight to ensure women's rights.
• Deliver Universal Health Care for the nation, not hidden benefits to the health care industry.
• Provide a solution to the current educational crisis in the nation caused by Bush.
• Help working people by giving them the biggest tax cuts - not the rich.
• Fulfill American democracy by supporting voting rights or statehood for the 600,000 disenfranchised citizens of the District of Columbia.

On March 15, 2004, Sharpton announced his endorsement of leading Democratic candidate John Kerry. However, Sharpton did not withdraw from the race, continuing instead to campaign and striving to win delegates for the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Related Topics:
March 15 - 2004 - John Kerry - 2004 Democratic National Convention

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