Time: Clinton Allies See South Carolina as Key State

[portlander23]

Time: Clinton Allies See South Carolina as Key State

Once the clear Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton now faces serious trouble in the first two states to vote. In Iowa, liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders has overtaken her in some recent polls, while in New Hampshire, he’s ahead by as many as 16 points.

Still, Clinton has shown few signs of doubt.

That confidence may come from Clinton’s position in South Carolina, the fourth primary contest. As Clinton has lost steam in Iowa and New Hampshire, her lead in South Carolina has remained in the double digits, and her allies believe that it could be the place where her fortunes turn around if things go poorly in the first contests.

“South Carolina appears to be shaping up to be the make or break for the whole race,” said Bob Coble, former mayor of Columbia and a Clinton endorser with extensive ties in the state. “With Iowa and New Hampshire being close and Sanders ahead, it’s going to be a pivotal state for the Democrats.”

Her support in South Carolina, however, is not ironclad. Sanders has expanded his operation in the state and has shown a knack for garnering support in Iowa and New Hampshire without much establishment backing. Sanders’ staff is now double the size of Clinton’s.

“Clinton’s support in the African-American community is real,” said Diane Sumpter, an African-American businesswoman in Columbia. “We know her.

“Bernie Sanders is not even on my radar,” Sumpter added. “He’s not even in the game, in my mind.”

Her supporters insist that Obama’s victory had nothing to do with Clinton’s weaknesses, but the Clintons ruffled feathers that year with a series of remarks that stirred up accusations of racial insensitivity. Hillary appeared in an interview in January to give credit to Lyndon Johnson over Martin Luther King for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Bill Clinton then seemed to dismiss Obama’s South Carolina win and attribute it to his race, saying that Jesse Jackson had won twice in the state.

Bill Clinton has also clashed with Rep. Clyburn, perhaps the most prominent Democratic politician from the state. The day after Hillary Clinton lost the South Carolina primary, Bill called Clyburn at 2:15 in the morning, according to the Clyburn’s 2014 memoir.

“If you bastards want a fight, you damn well will get one,” Clinton reportedly told Clyburn on a the surprise phone call attacking to the congressman, who officially stayed neutral during the South Carolina primary. Clyburn writes that Clinton again “exploded, used the word ‘bastard’ again, and accused me of causing her defeat and injecting race into the contest.

As for the Clintons’ statements in 2008, “People are willing to forgive in 2008 for Bill’s comments because there’s a long history there of them helping out the African-American community,” said Democratic party vice chair Melissa Watson.

Sanders has now dramatically boosted the size of his operation in the state, with a total of around 30 staff by the end of the month. Office workers stay up until 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., working the phones and organizing for the day.

In the last 10 days, Sanders’ staff and volunteers have knocked on 10,000 doors in African-American communities in an effort to knock a dent into Clinton’s support. In the three days Sanders has been in South Carolina, he has attracted crowds totaling 16,000.

Sanders gained a key supporter this month when Christale Spain, a top deputy in the South Carolina Democratic Party with key connections throughout the state, left to join his campaign.

“Hillary Clinton’s name ID in the African American community couldn’t be any better. They’re totally saturated,” said Jaime Harrison, the chair of the south Carolina Democratic Party. “She’s in an enviable position.”

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Interesting take on it.

“Hillary Clinton’s name ID in the African American community couldn’t be any better. They’re totally saturated,” said Jaime Harrison, the chair of the south Carolina Democratic Party. “She’s in an enviable position.”

Total name recognition means no more upside, only a chance to go down as Sanders gets more name recognition and his policy messages out there.

[Robbins]

2. Yeah yeah

Let's talk after we finally have some debates and after bernie wins iowa and NH.SOme once doudted bernie could win Iowa.

The Clintons real record on civil rights isn't that great.Meanwhile Bernie took part In March on washington,and fought for desegration In Chicago collage campus,and supported Jesse jackson
for president.

[DCBob]

3. Once past East Sanderstan Hillary will dominate.