DAVID A. YATES
Africa-Press – Liberia. Alexander Cummings stands at the cusp of making history, but much depends on the growing popularity of his running mate, Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine.
As an unexpected pick for Vice Standard Bearer on the ticket of the Collaborating Political Parties, the rising politician’s keen understanding of the issues facing Liberians has helped her energize Cummings’ political campaign due to her approachability and empathetic demeanor.
“I am certain that the Cummings-Brumskine ticket can secure victory on October 10th. We are tirelessly working toward this goal,” she says with unwavering confidence.
“We have reached out to lots of voters on a personal level, emphasizing the tangible benefits that a Cummings’ presidency can bring to their lives. The feedback from these engagements is very encouraging.”
Brumskine’s confidence lies in her ability to deeply articulate the Cummings-Brumskine policy positions, and navigate challenging questions while building relationships with younger voters — a demographic that could most likely propel Cummings to the presidency.
Analysts say her success on the campaign trail, despite being a political newbie, is due to her deep understanding of Liberian politics and society, enabling her to focus her campaign on small-scale gatherings to connect with voters personally while articulating her standard bearer’s vision for Liberia.
But this relationship will be put to a severe test on October 10 as she works hard to flip Grand Bassa, one of the six political battleground counties. Winning Grand Bassa, home to a voting population of 150,000, in favor of Cummings, can tip the scales in his favor. Cummings is making his second bid for the presidency after placing a distant 5th in 2017.
Brumskine’s family’s political legacy is etched in the history and society of Grand Bassa, home to one of Liberia’s largest tribes and a significant voting bloc. Her late father, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, who once served as Senator of Grand Bassa, was the most popular Bassa politician alive before his death in 2019. While the elder Brumkine failed all three of his attempts at the Liberian presidency, he managed to carve a political legacy that Grand Bassa County — and Charlyne in her own right — can build on.
“I want to see a Liberia where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. I want to see a Liberia where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. I want to see a Liberia where everyone has access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
“We are the team that can deliver the change that Liberia needs,” she noted. “We have the experience, the vision, and the commitment to make Liberia a better place for all and believe that we are going to win to deliver that.”
On the campaign trail, Brumskine’s skillful articulation of Cummings’ policy positions and navigating difficult questions, as well as going head-to-head with her opponents when the need arises, has made her an important asset, analysts say. She has been able to expound on Cummings’ analogy of the Liberian economy as the proverbial ‘bowl of rice’.
“By growing the bowl,” she explains, “you solve most of the problems, and in return, it ushers in increased opportunities, elevated educational standards, enhanced infrastructure, and more.”
Brumskine then noted that “The goal of the Cummings-Brumskine administration is to ensure that every Liberian partakes in the nourishment of that rice bowl. We believe in the Liberian dream that anything is possible.”
However, her understanding of policy issues has not stopped her from boldly telling voters that a Cummings administration would “stop making the government a job creator,” but rather an enabler; as such, the private sector must be the only one to grow the economy.
“The Cummings-Brumskine team,” she says, “is not just seeking votes, but also seeking the trust and partnership of the Liberian people in building a better country.
“We don’t merely want to bring about real change and fix the broken system; we aim to heal the nation and propel it toward a brighter future.
“This is what we are doing on the campaign trail — establishing genuine connections with the people, understanding their concerns, and presenting the solutions we offer for national progress,” she emphasizes.
In 2017, entering the presidential race with 18 months to spare, Cummings ranked 5th overall, third in Montserrado, and managed to secure the second spot in Maryland County behind Weah.
However, Cummings is now banking on winning Montserrado, historically an opposition territory, as well as Grand Bassa and Rivercess, which has a strong Bassa population, to cruise to the second round and win the elections, a feat analysts say is possible, albeit an uphill battle.
With the Brumskine name in tow, coupled with the groundwork of his running mate, analysts speculate that it will change the tide in his favor.
In Liberia’s evolving political landscape, the role of the vice-presidential candidate has grown more crucial than ever before. While the appeal of the presidential candidate is paramount, a running mate is expected to bring a measure of popularity that, when combined, can tip the scales toward victory.
Cummings’ two major opponents, President Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai, have running mates hailing from Bong and Nimba counties, the third and second most populous counties, respectively. Weah, with Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor by his side, secured substantial support among female voters during the 2017 elections.
It is this historical precedent that Cummings hopes to replicate with the selection of Brumskine, who’s also banking on her deceased father’s legacy to help him perform better than in 2017 amid his splurging of resources.
As an accomplished lawyer and academic, Brumskine has long been a respected figure in Liberia’s legal community. With a stellar academic record and a deep commitment to justice and the rule of law, she rose quickly through the ranks, earning a reputation as a formidable legal mind.
Born and raised in Liberia, her journey to prominence was not without its share of challenges. She experienced years of civil war and political instability and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of corruption and impunity. This fueled her passion for law and her determination to bring about change through the legal profession.
The partnership with Cummings was, however, born out of a “shared vision for a better Liberia.” Cummings, a former corporate executive with global experience, has brought fresh perspectives and ideas to the political arena.
But it is Brumskine’s extensive knowledge of Liberia’s political landscape and her keen insights on the intricacies of its legal system that truly complement Cummings’ outsider perspective.”
“I am also a frank person who always tells voters to see the election as an opportunity for change and not to recycle the same old potentials,” she says.
Brumskine believes that in addition to her identity as a woman, she possesses charisma, relatability, and a strong grasp of social media, facilitating “connecting with the youth, a formidable voting bloc.”
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