The courtship of black voters, a majority of them women, in South Carolina

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: The courtship of black voters in South Carolina
Half of Democratic voters there are African American; a majority of those are women who have yet to make up their minds in the Democratic presidential race.
By Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 26, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C -- The packed late morning service had just concluded at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, one of the largest black churches in South Carolina. As congregants streamed out of the vast air-conditioned sanctuary, a handful of women stopped to chat about an issue that is tearing them up: the Democratic presidential primary.

The women, who included a hairdresser, a school administrator, an account manager and an Olympic sprinter, said they were struggling to decide between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, each of whose candidacy is potentially historic. Their decision could profoundly effect the Democratic presidential race.

Besides the appeal of gender and race, when asked what qualities they were drawn to, all of them said they valued Clinton's experience and Obama's sense of hope, causing a struggle between their hearts and their heads....

***

In South Carolina -- a newly important Democratic battleground with an early primary -- the black vote is crucial. Half of Democratic voters here are black; a majority of those are women. And because so many black women have yet to make up their minds -- about 40% in one recent poll said they were undecided -- experts suggest that the victor here Jan. 29 will be the candidate who successfully courts them.

The Democratic National Committee scheduled the primary on the heels of contests in the overwhelmingly white states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada specifically to give black voters a voice in the nominating process. Given Obama's vast resources, he could probably survive a setback in Iowa or New Hampshire. But if he can't win in South Carolina, say experts, he will be in trouble on Feb. 5, when 20 states are to vote in what amounts to a national primary....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-southcarolina26sep26,0,238428.story?coll=la-home-center

[Ethelk2044]

1. My Boyfriend was just down there. Obama is doing well in SC. He

will WIN