The Rev. Al Sharpton has invited Hillary Clinton’s biggest nemesis to a soul food breakfast in Harlem.
The civil rights activist will dine with Bernie Sanders at Sylvia’s Restaurant Wednesday – little more than two weeks before the South Carolina primary.
It’s the same spot place Sharpton huddled with then Sen. Barack Obama and launched an alliance that continued well after his 2008 historic win.
The confab comes two weeks after Sharpton dined with a top aide to Michael Bloomberg, Kevin Sheekey, and offered praise of the former mayor’s potential independent White House bid.
Sharpton has not endorsed in the presidential race and his openness to Clinton’s competitors could pose a problem for her.
Team Clinton has sought to dismiss Sanders’ strength in Iowa and New Hampshire as primarily white liberal electorates, pointing to South Carolina and Nevada as states with much more diverse populations where she’s expected to do well.
Sanders recently picked up the endorsement of former NAACP leader Ben Jealous and has dropped nearly $750,000 in ads in South Carolina, versus $440,000 for Clinton, according to NBC News/SMG Delta data. Sanders is the only major advertiser in Nevada with $1.9 million in spending.
Since launching her presidential bid, Clinton has had friendly interviews with Sharpton on his radio and TV shows.
Sharpton said it makes sense the candidates are seeking advice from someone who is dealing with issues of the African American community daily.
“I think that they have dealt with the reality that if people are going to address issues they will have to address them with the people involved in the issues,” Sharpton told The Daily Beast.
“You cannot appoint our leadership for us.”
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