Newswise — Considering the City of Brotherly Love is known as "Killadelphia," there's no doubt that issues of violence will be at the forefront of Philadelphia voters' minds when the Democratic candidates visit October 30. So, who might be best at offering solutions to this growing epidemic?
Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology and director of Saint Joseph's University's Institute for Violence Research and Prevention thinks Barack Obama might have the upper hand.
"Obama is probably in the best position. Symbolically, he has been way out in front on this issue, which rarely pops up in the other campaigns," she explains. "Remember too, Obama got his start dealing with urban issues as a community organizer in Chicago."
For Obama as a black man in America, Kefalas adds, this is a very personal issue. "People who look like him are dying by the thousands. That can't help but strike you to the core."
On the flip side, Kefalas warns not to underestimate Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.
"Clinton has spoken with great passion on issues to black church leaders and civil rights activists," she says. "And Edwards has made poverty and urban poverty key platforms in his policies. Perhaps not exactly urban crime and violence, but certainly, it's all connected."
RSS