Mayor Atkins ran in the 2006 Democratic presidential primary election.
Vice President Russell didn't want to face Atkins and Congressman Santos at the Iowa Brown and Black Forum because as people of color they would be able to rail against racial injustice while the other candidates were left "looking like those albino twins from The Matrix."[1]
At the convention Josh Lyman told workers on the Santos campaign they would need to pick up stray Atkins delegates.[2] Atkins and Governor Eric Baker served as key surrogates during the 2006 presidential election, flying wherever the polls showed they were most needed.[3]