Black Democrats demand Clinton send campaign money to take House

Some leading Democrats are urging Hillary Clinton to dip into the $150 million from her campaign war chest to help with down-ballot races.

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Some leading Democrats are urging Hillary Clinton to dip into the $150 million from her campaign war chest to help with down-ballot races. 

Representatives James E. Clyburn of South Carolina and G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina have publicly revealed that there is a split in the party along racial lines as Democrats, and black Democrats in particular, are asking for more help in tight races even as other Democrats are pushing to humiliate Trump in the national presidential election in traditionally red states.

But rather than put money into races in states like Utah, they are calling for Clinton to help with tight races in liberal and centrist states as well as more conservative-leaning states where the races are close enough that Democrats might be able to wrest control of Congress from Republicans.

“She may be in a good place, but I don’t think the party is in a good place yet,” said Clyburn.

Butterfield also noted that the “down-ballot races are not as comfortable as the presidential race,” saying, “I’m concerned about the African-American vote. We’ve got to get a turnout in the African-American community that equals or surpasses the white turnout.”

While both Clyburn and Butterfield said that the Clinton camp has respectfully listened to their requests, they have not gotten a firm commitment from the presidential candidate, despite their arguments that her presidential agenda will be easier to accomplish if she has a Congress that is controlled by her party.

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