It’s going to take some time for the Democratic party to heal the rift that had developed between Clinton and Obama supporters, even as Clinton has formally announced the cessation of her presidential campaign.
This was evidenced yesterday at an “unity” rally by local Democratic officials on the steps of City Hall. Tensions flared as State Sen. Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan) answered a reporter’s question about why some Clinton supporters were not present for the event and then Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) interrupted. Perkins responded with “Don’t tell me to behave. I was talking to him,” and the ensuing exchange captured by the Observer’s Azi Paybarah was hardly an example of party unity. City Council Members Mathieu Eugene, Letitia James, and John Liu ended up having to intervene to keep the two apart.
