Harris and Booker jostle for backing of black lawmakers

A behind-the-scenes scramble has broken out among Democratic White House hopefuls for support from members of the influential Congressional Black Caucus — a sign of the brewing battle for African-American voters. Two African-American senators, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, are aggressively courting black lawmakers as they look to build networks in key presidential voting states like South Carolina, Ohio and Michigan. Both showed up at the CBC’s weekly meeting on Wednesday. As Harris worked the room, Booker told at least two members that he would call them afterward, according to sources at the meeting. Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) is another CBC member who spoke with Harris before her rollout. Lawrence wants to help Harris organize a trip to Detroit and talked up the California Democrat's potential. “I’m very excited about her running and told her however I can be supportive I would be,” said Lawrence, whose state went to Trump in 2016.