“Don’t run from the runoffs,” Sharpton says

Fresh from Democratic primary victories, Bill de Blasio, John Liu, and Jumaane Williams made the trek back to the National Action Network last Saturday to thank the Rev. Al Sharpton and his organization for their support.

De Blasio topped Mark Green in the race for Public Advocate, but fell short of getting 40 percent of the vote needed to prevent a runoff.  On September 29th the two will go head to head to determine a winner.

“A candidate can have no better ally than Rev. Sharpton,” De Blasio said.  “I would not have won without him.  I will not let the city do the wrong thing, but I need your help again eleven days from now.”

In his bid to become the next City Comptroller, Liu also narrowly missed getting the 40 percent to avoid a runoff and he will face David Yassky.

I came very close to winning it all,” Liu said, signaling the margin with his fingers.  “But that’s all right because now we have more time to talk about the issues.”

Protecting the pension, providing economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women owned businesses are among the priorities on Liu’s agenda in the few days remaining before the runoff election, he said.

Williams pulled off a surprising upset of two-term incumbent Kendall Stewart in New York’s 45th Council District.   While Williams’ victory can be largely attributed to the backing of the Working Families Party, he was still grateful for Sharpton’s support.

“Those robo calls from Al helped me to win, and I can’t thank him enough for being there for me,” Williams said.  “But there’s more work to do for Bill and John, and I’ll be there for them in their runoffs.”

Runoff was on Rev. Sharpton’s mind as well.  “Don’t runaway from the runoffs,” he said, reminding his followers at NAN and those listening on his broadcast to turn out at the polls.  “If you runaway, you’ll get run out.”

Sharpton, unsurprisingly, had a few comments about the current assault on Obama and the struggle he’s having selling the American people on his plan for universal health care reform.   “He’s not just fighting for Black Americans, he’s fighting for health care for all of us,” the reverend said.

“But they are trying to Willie Horton him,” Sharpton continued, referring to the political ad that effectively discredited Democrat Michael Dukakis in 1988 presidential campaign.   “The Republicans had eight years to have done something about health care reform, and they didn’t do it.  Now they want to dismiss everything Obama does.”

The right wing talk show hosts and other conservative groups were assailed by Sharpton, who during one of his most creative moments resorted to Scriptures and compared them to the Israelites who hounded Moses, calling the fiscal conservative Democrats, “blue dog Israelites.”