Obama, Clinton Compete For S.C.'s Blacks

Campaigns Battle For Voters That Usually Make Up Half Of Primary Voters In The State

(AP)  In beauty shops, churches and living rooms, organizers for Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are in a fierce competition for the support of black voters in the upcoming first-in-the-South presidential primary.

Obama's campaign is counting on blacks who traditionally make up half of the Democratic primary voters here to deliver the state to him on Jan. 26, a victory that he hopes will help fuel momentum going into the "Mega Tuesday" voting in 22 states 10 days later. But he'll have to fend off Clinton, who comes with one of the most beloved political surnames in the black community.

The outreach is especially targeted at black women, who are reliable voters and who both campaigns recognize may feel loyalties to each candidate. And so far women have made the difference in the campaign - Obama won a majority of women in Iowa and took the state, while Clinton took most women and most votes overall in New Hampshire.

Juanita Edwards is one such voter. She came to see both candidates when they campaigned near her hometown of Simpsonville and still feels torn about which to vote for. Edwards said she's leaning toward Clinton because she likes that she had exposure to international affairs and health care during her time as first lady. But race and gender are on her mind too.

"I definitely respect the opportunity to vote for the first woman president and the first African-American president," she said. "If I have to lean toward one, I always lean toward a strong, intelligent woman."

In the early days of the primary race last year, Clinton had the advantage in polls here and she's won over many influential black leaders. But Obama has been able to turn that around through a labor-intensive effort aimed at black communities. He has a large campaign staff that tries to win over preachers and barbers who hold sway in the community, and those organizers also hold meetings with small groups of people - mostly women - in their homes.

The message has a different focus than it did in Iowa and New Hampshire, where almost all voters are white. It stresses Obama's civil rights work, his faith and the struggles he faced growing up, only to end up in Ivy League schools.

"Dream of a president who was raised like Barack was by a single mom who had to work and go to school and raise her kids and accept food stamps once in a while," the candidate's wife, Michelle Obama, said on a visit to the state in November. "Imagine a president who knows what that's like."

It's a story that Deborah Williams says she shares with the two sons that she's raised on her own.

"He's an example of somebody who was raised by a single parent and came out on top and still cares for somebody else," she said. "That's what I always tell my sons; you have to care for others and you have to get your education."

Williams, who came to Charleston on Thursday to see Obama speak, said she will vote for him in the primary, even though at first she was backing Clinton.

"Initially I was supporting her because I must say I'm a Bill Clinton fan," said Williams, an elementary school teacher's assistant. "But then Barack came along and had all the things to say about change."

John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Obama here on Thursday to send a message to South Carolina voters that Obama is not simply a candidate for blacks, but one who crosses the racial divide. It also could tell black voters who haven't been reassured by Obama's win in Iowa that he's a candidate who can be embraced by white America.

The Clintons have yet to announce a visit to South Carolina after her win in New Hampshire, and Obama advisers say they wonder whether she's going to campaign in the state. There's a theory that she could skip it, then argue that he was able to win because it was a predominantly black election.

Clinton adviser Minyon Moore said that won't happen. "It's her intention to be in South Carolina and work for every vote there," Moore said. "I can assure you that she's not abandoning South Carolina. There are trips being planned."

Asked how Obama was able to chip away at Clinton's lead among black voters, Moore pointed to a rally last month that drew nearly 30,000 to see the Illinois senator and his most famous friend. "He did have a lovely event with Oprah Winfrey, and we do credit him with that," she said.

Obama advisers say it's unlikely Oprah will make it back to campaign. But spouses of both candidates could help. Bill Clinton would be a powerful draw should the campaign decide to send him. Michelle Obama plans to campaign next week in Georgetown, her maternal grandfather's hometown.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 06:33 PM : Jan 11, 2008

Actually, I see Hillary as a very strong uniting candidate with the ability to reach across party lines and get things done.

Obama is going to go in there beating his chest and trying to force only HIS agenda, whatever that is. Right now it looks like his agenda is racism, since he''s called in Daddy Al, and Daddy Jesse to do his dirty work.

Edwards shouldn''t even be in the race. He''s not only an also ran, but a person who can stand on a stage with children who''ve suffered terribly, put his arm around them and claim how much he loves them. Of course he does, they made him a millionnaire many times over. And if they hadn''t had a 99% winnable case he would''ve told them to drop dead. This man is the biggest fake I''ve ever seen.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by sjbj2322 at 02:53 PM : Jan 13, 2008

Well said!

[sjbj2322]

Just to validate a few of the comments. If the Democratic nominee is not Hillary Clinton, this former Republican will return to the Republican party because I absolutely will not vote for Obama or Edwards. Obama is all fluff and little stuff. Edwards is just a farce who desperately needs better wetting solution for his contacts and probably should have a few less drinks before he gets on stage again following a state primary. He was stumbling all over his words after the New Hampshire primary. I do agree that Biden would make an exceptional Vice President but not under Edwards. In fact that would be the ultimate slap in the face to a man (Biden) who has truly worked his tail off for this nation.

[realpatriot1]

johnfrost,

I''m not a psychologist but here''s my take on your opinions and you degree of professionalism.

There''s no clinical basis for you to call his family dysfunctional; your expression of a professional opinion on a family you haven''t interviewed reminds me of Bill Frist diagnosing Terry Shiavo from the Senate floor. You provide no examples to reinforce your claim that he''s a pathological liar; you seem to have him confused with Bill Clinton & George Bush.

I don''t know how devout his father was or how many African husbands his mother had but neither is a crime or dysfunctional.

His mother enrolled him initially in the Madrassas and then transferred him to a catholic school; these were the best schools in their area of Indonesia. Again, no crime. Your claim that he''s a practicing Muslim is a bold-faced lie and you know it. A memeber of the United Church of Christ doesn''t care what Sharia law says, it merely means that he''s an infidel to them.

Even if your fantasy wasn''t a total lie the President cannot pass our nuclear arsenel to anyone.

He hasn''t admitted to selling drugs, another lie on your part.

Sir, you aren''t a psychologist. You''re a psycho and pathological liar and most likely a supporter of a jealous candidate.
You imply

[lgander]

Why does everyone think that blacks are so stupid as to vote for a minority JUST to have a minority elected - whether it''s a woman or another black man???

ARE WE SAYING THAT BLACKS WILL DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT A MINORITY???????????

Think about it. I wouldn''t be surprised if they vote in the Republican primary....

[rmeoses]

LOL lol go2342000 you are a pathertic little work ,Johns Edwards is a Obam back *** licker.the way he and you hussan islamic Obama attacked Hillary wow now theres a out and out liers and tell you what .when all comes down said and done if Hillary loses there will be a lot of demos turning to the republican party .just watch and see.

[colonieny]

/////////LAWYeRS COST WAY TOO MUCH !!/////

I would like to see the candidates, including Edwards, go after the money grubbing lawyers, who charge the average guy 300 to 450 dollars per hour- working people like me ! just for us to exercise our constitutional rights ! Just as we have medical bills not due to any "fault", we have legal issues arise - just for living. Why should I go broke just to exercise my consitutional rights ??
Crooks and corporations take advantage of us, and the so called "lawyers" are part of the cottage industry to take our money, just so that we can live in peace.

When will Hillary, Obama, and Edwards come out for FREE LEGAL RIGHTS ! Free us from the burden of litigation that has ruined the working people of America !!!

[samthetvcat]

Also, Bubba the ''honorary black'' now seems to be creating a racial divide too - I don''t doubt his sincerity when it came to racial issues in the past, but it winning seems to be first above all else at this point. I feel like it''s the same with Hillary when it comes to women and children''s issues - is it really best for women as a whole to have her creating a gender war?

[samthetvcat]

Shoot, the new national poll numbers on the Democratic side show Clinton up about 14%.

Obama isn''t down - so on the surface the it would seem like numbers might be coming from Richardson (the experience/seniors votes) and Edwards (the ''war on the middle class'' votes). But apparently there''s been a huge shift in female numbers, so maybe the Richardson and Edwards'' male voters are actually dividing up into both the other camps, but most of the women are going to Hillary (?)

As somebody who likes the idea of bridging gaps, I find it so troublesome to see Hillary creating bigger divides and succeeding.

[bella_triana]

Go away Barack Hussein!! You need to wrap it up and come back to Illinois and do your job you lazy piece of horse manure. You haven''t worked a single day here besides vote for the early release of convicted *** offenders.

YOU WON''T DUPE IL AGAIN AND YOU CERTAINLY WON''T DUPE THIS GREAT NATION INTO VOTING FOR YOUR RACIST RUMP!