Democrats clash over race issue in final debate

THE Democratic presidential contenders clashed sharply over race in the final debate before the Iowa caucuses on Sunday, with civil rights activist Al Sharpton challenging front-runner Howard Dean’s record as Vermont governor.

Barely a week before the January 19 caucuses kick off the Democratic contest for the White House, Dean conceded under questions from Mr Sharpton that he did not have a black or Hispanic in his six-member Cabinet during more than 11 years as governor. “If you want to lecture people on race, you ought to have the background and track record,” said Mr Sharpton, one of two black candidates in the presidential race along with former Illinois senator, Carol Moseley Braun.

“I will take a back seat to no one in my commitment to civil rights,” Mr Dean said, saying he had the most endorsements from members of the black and Hispanic congressional delegations.

“I think you only need co-signers if your credit is bad,” Mr Sharpton responded. Mr Dean leads the nine-strong Democratic field vying for the right to challenge President George W Bush in polls despite relentless attacks from his rivals, who have accused him of making careless and conflicting statements and attacked his plan to repeal all of Mr Bush’s tax cuts. Some Democrats also have questioned whether Mr Dean, who holds a narrow lead in Iowa over Missouri Republican Richard Gephardt ahead of the caucuses, can expand his largely white support and bring blacks and Hispanics to the polls in November.

Mr Dean’s native Vermont is 96% white. Blacks make up only 2% of the population in Iowa.

Ms Braun went after Mr Sharpton for attacking Mr Dean, telling him “you can always blow up a racial debate and make people mad at each other. But I think it’s time for us to talk about what are you going to do to bring people together?”

Mr Sharpton said he had heard Mr Dean “lecture” the other Democrats on race throughout the campaign, adding: “I want him to be accountable since he brought up race. That’s not racial hysteria; that is accountability.”

The debate on Sunday, the 11th between the presidential contenders, was called the Iowa Black and Brown Forum and was designed to focus on racial issues.

A poll released on Sunday showed Mr Dean leading Mr Gephardt 25%-23%, with Massachusetts senator John Kerry in third place at 14% and North Carolina senator John Edwards fourth with 13%.

The debate followed a full day of campaigning for most of the candidates in Iowa.