Chief posted:.He is very comfortable in black gatherings and their community. The question is, are blacks comfortable with voting for a non black candidate to represent them.
He has to work very hard to win this seat.
De Blasio won the election based on the black vote. He even beat Bill Thompson, a black candidate, based on the black female vote.
If he cultivates the black vote he might get support. If he gets the right blacks around him he will build up trust.
And his name is an advantage as some people might even think that he is some kind of mixed black. They wouldn't necessarily connect him as being a full out Indo Guyanese.
The negative that he might have to deal with are allegations that he is gay, and his mannerisms are delicate. Blacks in Queens are conservative. Less broadminded than those in Harlem or in even places like BedStuy and Fort Greene.
But maybe some black "aunties" might like him and in these low turn out elections they are the ones who vote. If you asked the average person whether they know that there is a major election in about a month they wouldn't know what you are talking about. The fact that De Blasio has no real primary is going to depress turn out. That might help him if he has a strong machine.
The winner will be who has trade union backing. Maybe that's why Vish is with Hettie.