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Clinton Reaches Out To Black Voters

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By BETH FOUHY, The Associated Press

Published: January 26, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gathered emotional endorsements Friday from two prominent black women who implored blacks to set aside their excitement about her rival Sen. Barack Obama's campaign to be the first black president.

In the run-up to today's South Carolina Democratic primary, the first in which blacks could play a pivotal role, Clinton has spoken to mostly white audiences while her husband, Bill, the former president, has courted blacks.

That changed Friday when she made an explicit pitch for black support in a speech at a historically black college in South Carolina's state capital surrounded by prominent black supporters.

The New York senator was welcomed to the stage by two black colleagues from her home state - former New York Mayor David Dinkins and House Ways and Means chairman Charles Rangel - who praised Clinton as a public servant and friend.

Polls show blacks strongly supporting Obama in the state, while Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards roughly split the white vote.

Stacey Jones, a Benedict College dean who described herself as "a woman, an African-American, a size 9 wide and any other label you choose to use," said she understood why many blacks might pause before voting for Clinton.

"For some of us it may take a very, very bold step to walk into that voting booth and focus on our community's future rather than acting on pure emotion. Let's do the right thing and elect Sen. Hillary Clinton president of the United States," she said to applause.

She was followed by Richland County Councilwoman Bernice Scott, who bluntly told the audience "this race is not about race or gender."

Scott said the decision should come down to which candidate can "feed the sheep."

"Senator Clinton has a record that can feed everybody. And we need to be fed," she said.

Meanwhile, Obama looked to appeal to women's concerns, vowing to boost government spending on preschool, preventive health care and other programs.

He held consecutive events with small groups of women in South Carolina's two largest cities. Obama hopes to cut into Clinton's support among women, who were crucial to her victory in New Hampshire.

Sitting at a table with four women in Charleston and then another four in Columbia, Obama said the Bush administration has reduced social programs vital to working families and single parents. At his Columbia stop, the Illinois senator said he wants the federal government to work more actively with states to prevent mortgage foreclosures for struggling families.

Later, he criticized Clinton's experience by contending that it didn't necessarily lead to good decisions.

"Senator Clinton says we need somebody who's going to be ready from Day One," Obama told nearly 1,000 people at an event in Florence. "If you get the war wrong and you get health care wrong, it's not a question of being ready on Day One, it's a question of being right on Day One. Just because you've been someplace a long time doesn't mean you're ready," he said.

Democrat John Edwards sought to underscore squabbling between his rivals.

At an evening rally attended by about 600 people at the College of Charleston, Edwards said: "The two of them seem to be focused on tearing each other down. I'm focused on building you up."

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