Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison was fast out of the gate for Chair of the Democratic National Committee, amassing quick endorsements from Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and the AFL-CIO.
But Ellison was barely at the first turn when he stumbled badly in what Ellison and his supporters called a "smear campaign" against him. Ellison’s past
decade-long support for Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, his suggestion of
dual loyalty from American Jews when speaking at a fundraiser for Muslim leaders, and his cozy relationship with some of the
worst pro-BDS, anti-Israel groups, has disrupted what seemed like a clear trajectory to DNC Chair.
And then Obama-Biden
sent signals they were encouraging Labor Secretary Tom Perez to seek the position. I suggested at the time that
Keith Ellison DNC bid circling Farrakhan drain as Perez set to announce.