By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Creve Coeur, MO – The Republican who hopes to replace Democratic Congressman William Lacy Clay says his party is not doing enough to attract other African-Americans.
Leslie Farr appeared Thursday with Clay at a candidates' forum in Creve Coeur.
Farr says the party's stance on abortion and same-sex marriage is in line with that of many black voters.
"These are issues that the Republican Party champions, but black folks don't know it because Republicans don't come to their neighborhood and tell them about it. We leave our definition up to our opponents. The Republican Party's greatest enemy is its absence in the African-American community."
Farr, 26, is a Mizzou grad. He was suspended from and later quit his job as an Amtrak conductor in August.
Farr stirred controversy by joking with passengers that they should vote accordingly after being delayed by John Kerry's campaign train.