WASHINGTON _ Cory Booker has set himself apart from the 2020 Democratic presidential field with a decidedly positive and unifying message, evoking the hope-and-change campaign of Barack Obama.
Brady Quirk-Garvan was so inspired by it that he resigned from his post as the chair of the Charleston County Democrats in South Carolina to endorse the New Jersey senator, confident that his approach was the best way to defeat a divisive figure like President Donald Trump.
"Barack Obama won by talking about hope and change. Bill Clinton won by talking about the promise of the 21st century," said Quirk-Garvan, who worked on Obama's 2008 campaign. "Democrats win when we talk about laying out a positive vision for the future."
But another member of Obama's 2008 campaign, former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers, isn't sold on the approach, arguing that it's out of step with an enraged progressive base that's eager to take down Trump.
"Messaging for Cory is probably the largest issue that he has," Sellers said. "He speaks with a message of love that is similar to hope and change. But people want to know what he stands for. Those of us that know him think he can articulate that, but he's going to have to do that in short order."
"There's not going to be another Barack Obama," added Sellers, who has not endorsed a presidential candidate but spoke highly of Kamala Harris. "A 2008 message is not going to work in 2020."
It's not just rhetoric where Booker's out of line with Democratic activists; it's policy, and a record on several issues that anti-corporate liberals still view skeptically despite Booker moving to the left in recent months. Booker has established close ties with Wall Street, the pharmaceutical industry, Silicon Valley and charter school advocates _ ties that weren't always viewed by Democrats as sins, but are sure to receive more scrutiny in a competitive and increasingly liberal primary.
"For a lot of people, those associations, they wouldn't view them positively," said Larry Drake, the chairman of the Rockingham County Democrats in New Hampshire. "Whether that's disqualifying, that depends on the individual."
Whether Booker can square his optimistic vision with the fiery progressive base he needs to make inroads with is the central challenge of his presidential bid, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic operatives and officials.
"For him, it's about striking a balance between his hopeful and inspirational message for the party, but also demonstrating that he can throw a strong political right hook and can be tough when he needs to be," said Matt Paul, who ran Hillary Clinton's 2016 Iowa caucus operation.
