Rep. John Lewis (Reuters)
Rep. James Clyburn (Getty Images)
Rep. Cleaver (Ron Sachs)
RACE CARD: Black leaders of national stature are flocking to the Big Apple to stump for mayoral candidate Bill Thompson (above). (
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Bill Thompson is enlisting prominent African-American leaders from across the country to help boost his black support and halt a surging Bill de Blasio in the Democratic race for mayor, The Post has learned.
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn — who was an ally of Martin Luther King Jr. — will stump across the city with Thompson the weekend before the Sept. 10 primary, sources said.
Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, former head of the Congressional Black Caucus who previously served as the first black mayor of Kansas City, is also coming to the Big Apple to campaign with Thompson.
The star-studded cast may even include Georgia Rep. and civil-rights icon John Lewis, the last surviving speaker from the March on Washington who worked alongside King.
“Black leaders who have fought for equality their entire lives recognize Bill Thompson will continue that fight,” said Thompson spokesman John Collins. “The legacy of that struggle is the reason they are unified behind Thompson, who they know will be a powerful voice for improving public schools, and ending the abuse of stop-and-frisk.”
Thompson, the only black candidate in the race, finds himself in an unexpected fight for the African-American vote.
A Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday showed de Blasio — the fast-rising front-runner — getting 34 percent of the black vote to 25 percent for Thompson, the former city comptroller.
“I don’t think Thompson makes the run-off if he doesn’t get between 50 to 60 percent of the black vote,” said consultant Basil Smikle, who is not working for any candidate.
Thompson insiders note — correctly — that polls have historically under-counted his support. In the 2009 mayoral race, Thompson came within a few points of a stunning upset when the polls predicted Mayor Bloomberg would win in a walk.
But Thompson associates also admit frustration that de Blasio — whose wife, Chirlane McCray, is black and whose son, Dante, sports an Afro and is featured in campaign ads — has made inroads into Thompson’s base.
“Black folks love de Blasio’s kid — especially black women,” said one top black Democrat pol, referring to de Blasio’s “Go with the ’Fro” pitch. “Bill owes Dante — big time!”
De Blasio’s platform calling for taxing the rich, ending stop-and-frisk, and rallying to prevent the closure of hospitals has resonated with voters, surveys indicate.
Smikle also said de Blasio has most benefitted from Anthony Weiner’s sexting implosion.
