Ex-NAACP chief Ben Jealous to run for Maryland governorWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former NAACP President Ben Jealous said on Wednesday he would seek the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor next year, charging that the Republican incumbent lacked the courage to stand up to President Donald Trump. Jealous, an ally of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, said incumbent Larry Hogan had failed to oppose Trump policies that would weaken healthcare and education as well as environmental protection of the Chesapeake Bay. Jealous, making his first bid for elected office, is the latest Democrat to try to link an opponent to the Republican president. Approval ratings have sagged for Trump, who has been embroiled in controversy since his May 9 firing of FBI Director James Comey who was overseeing an investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. “It seems like every week our governor becomes a little more like the lion in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ all strength and no political courage,” Jealous, 44, said as he declared his candidacy outside a cousin’s flower shop in Baltimore. Hogan, who did not endorse Trump in the 2016 election, has not said if he will seek re-election. A spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won Maryland by 26 percentage points in last November’s election. Jealous led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the biggest U.S. civil rights group, from 2008 to 2013. He is the second Democrat to announce his candidacy ahead of Maryland’s June 2018 primary, joining entrepreneur and author Alec Ross. Jealous, if elected, would be Maryland’s first black governor. Jealous, who spearheaded the NAACP’s successful campaign to overturn Maryland’s death penalty in 2012, said he backed raising the minimum wage to $15 a hour from the current $8.75, improving teacher quality, expanding mass transit and improving training for police officers. Hogan has followed a moderate agenda focused on economic growth and cutting regulations and fees. He also has banned fracking, which involves injecting water, sand and chemicals into shale to release natural gas and oil, thus aligning himself with Maryland’s heavily Democratic voter base. He held a 65 percent approval rating among registered voters in a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll in March, but only 41 percent backed him for a second term. Hogan, 61, scored an upset victory in 2014 over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown.  politicsNews
chief ben jealous run maryland governorwashington reuters former naacp president ben jealous said wednesday would seek democratic nomination maryland governor next year charging republican incumbent lacked courage stand president donald trump jealous ally senator bernie sanders bid democratic presidential nomination said incumbent larry hogan failed oppose trump policies would weaken healthcare education well environmental protection chesapeake bay jealous making first bid elected office latest democrat try link opponent republican president approval ratings tagged trump embroiled controversy since may firing fbi director james come overseeing investigation possible collusion trump presidential campaign russia it seems like every week governor becomes little like lion the wizard oz strength political courage jealous said declared candidacy outside cousin flower shop baltimore hogan endorse trump election said seek a spokesman respond request comment democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton maryland percentage points last november election jealous led national association advancement colored people biggest civil rights group he second democrat announce candidacy ahead maryland june primary joining entrepreneur author alec ross jealous elected would maryland first black governor jealous spearheaded naacp successful campaign overturn maryland death penalty said backed raising minimum wage hour current improving teacher quality expanding mass transit improving training police officers hogan followed moderate agenda focused economic growth cutting regulations fees he also banned fracking involves injecting water sand chemicals shale release natural gas oil thus aligning maryland heavily democratic voter base he held percent approval rating among registered voters washington maryland poll march percent backed second term hogan scored upset victory democratic lieutenant governor anthony brown politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-NAACP chief Ben Jealous to run for Maryland governorWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former NAACP President Ben Jealous said on Wednesday he would seek the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor next year, charging that the Republican incumbent lacked the courage to stand up to President Donald Trump. Jealous, an ally of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, said incumbent Larry Hogan had failed to oppose Trump policies that would weaken healthcare and education as well as environmental protection of the Chesapeake Bay. Jealous, making his first bid for elected office, is the latest Democrat to try to link an opponent to the Republican president. Approval ratings have sagged for Trump, who has been embroiled in controversy since his May 9 firing of FBI Director James Comey who was overseeing an investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. “It seems like every week our governor becomes a little more like the lion in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ all strength and no political courage,” Jealous, 44, said as he declared his candidacy outside a cousin’s flower shop in Baltimore. Hogan, who did not endorse Trump in the 2016 election, has not said if he will seek re-election. A spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won Maryland by 26 percentage points in last November’s election. Jealous led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the biggest U.S. civil rights group, from 2008 to 2013. He is the second Democrat to announce his candidacy ahead of Maryland’s June 2018 primary, joining entrepreneur and author Alec Ross. Jealous, if elected, would be Maryland’s first black governor. Jealous, who spearheaded the NAACP’s successful campaign to overturn Maryland’s death penalty in 2012, said he backed raising the minimum wage to $15 a hour from the current $8.75, improving teacher quality, expanding mass transit and improving training for police officers. Hogan has followed a moderate agenda focused on economic growth and cutting regulations and fees. He also has banned fracking, which involves injecting water, sand and chemicals into shale to release natural gas and oil, thus aligning himself with Maryland’s heavily Democratic voter base. He held a 65 percent approval rating among registered voters in a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll in March, but only 41 percent backed him for a second term. Hogan, 61, scored an upset victory in 2014 over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown.  politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: chief ben jealous run maryland governorwashington reuters former naacp president ben jealous said wednesday would seek democratic nomination maryland governor next year charging republican incumbent lacked courage stand president donald trump jealous ally senator bernie sanders bid democratic presidential nomination said incumbent larry hogan failed oppose trump policies would weaken healthcare education well environmental protection chesapeake bay jealous making first bid elected office latest democrat try link opponent republican president approval ratings tagged trump embroiled controversy since may firing fbi director james come overseeing investigation possible collusion trump presidential campaign russia it seems like every week governor becomes little like lion the wizard oz strength political courage jealous said declared candidacy outside cousin flower shop baltimore hogan endorse trump election said seek a spokesman respond request comment democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton maryland percentage points last november election jealous led national association advancement colored people biggest civil rights group he second democrat announce candidacy ahead maryland june primary joining entrepreneur author alec ross jealous elected would maryland first black governor jealous spearheaded naacp successful campaign overturn maryland death penalty said backed raising minimum wage hour current improving teacher quality expanding mass transit improving training police officers hogan followed moderate agenda focused economic growth cutting regulations fees he also banned fracking involves injecting water sand chemicals shale release natural gas oil thus aligning maryland heavily democratic voter base he held percent approval rating among registered voters washington maryland poll march percent backed second term hogan scored upset victory democratic lieutenant governor anthony brown politicsnews