"Democrats will on Saturday elect a new leader for the era of Trump, after a months-long contest that has exposed lingering divisions in the party.nnHillary Clintonu2019s devastating election loss and a surge of liberal activism in response has reshaped what might have been an insidersu2019 affair into a national competition that observers have cast as a battle for the soul of the party.nnThe contest is led by former labor secretary Tom Perez, who backed Clinton and was considered as her running mate, and Minnesota representative Keith Ellison, who supported Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and is the favorite of grassroots activists and progressive groups.nnMeet the DNC chair candidates vying to take over Democratic leadership Read morennu201cHereu2019s a party hanging in the balance right now,u201d New York mayor Bill de Blasio, who endorsed Ellison, said at a reception for the congressman on Friday night. u201cRight now u2013 in the next 24-hours u2013 people in this room will decide the fate of the Democratic party. That will decide the fate of our nation. As simple as thatu201d.nnAt dueling parties on Friday night, the frontrunners urged unity.nnu201c Weu2019ve got to come out of this thing hands strong,u201d Ellison said, talking over shouts of u201cKeith!u201d u201cNo one benefits from us fighting each other than Trump and those crazy rightwing governors and all the rest of them.u201dnnHe added: u201cBut just because Iu2019m asking you to be unified doesnu2019t mean you canu2019t be passionate, fighting for your candidate.u201dnnAcross the hall, Perez, who is believed to have an edge, predicted Democrats would leave Atlanta as an energized and unified front.nnu201cI am absolutely confident that tomorrow will be unity Saturday,u201d Perez shouted, his voice hoarse from weeks of campaigning. u201cA united Democratic party is not only our best weapon, itu2019s Donald Trumpu2019s worst nightmare.u201dnnCampaign signs cluttered the eighth-floor hallway of the Westin Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta, where the three-day party meeting was being held. Supporters crowded the entrance to the main ballroom, chanting and even singing for their candidate.nnProgressive activists and groups have ratcheted up their support for Ellison."
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