“It’s important to keep a leader, a fighter, and warrior like Mike Capuano around,” Mr. Lewis said at the event, which was equal parts gospel service and political town hall and held at the same Massachusetts church where the Rev. The campaign appearance by Mr. Lewis and the recent decision by the political arm of the Congressional Black Caucus to back Mr. Capuano has made this primary race a microcosm of a larger search for identity among Democrats, while igniting friction between national black politicians and local ones. It is the state’s only district where the majority of residents are not white and Mr. Capuano, who is white, has never faced a serious primary challenger in his 10-term tenure in Congress. But instead of rallying around her, high-profile black politicians — including Mr. Lewis, Representative Maxine Waters of California and former Gov. Mr. Lewis declined several requests to discuss his endorsement.

Source: New York Times May 19, 2018 23:44 UTC