There are signs of a generational split among black voters in South Carolina, site of this weekend's Democratic presidential primary. While many older African Americans favor Joe Biden, younger voters seem inclined to back Bernie Sanders.
J’Kobe Kelley-Mills, a junior at Benedict College, and civil rights activist James L. Felder, pose for a photo after a workshop on African Americans and the vote held at Benedict College, a historically black college in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Black voters aren’t unanimous in their choice in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 29.
J’Kobe Kelley-Mills, a junior English major, said he was torn between Biden and Bernie Sanders, the progressive Vermont senator who is now the Democratic front-runner after strong performances in the first three primary contests. The dynamic was a reminder that black voters aren’t unanimous in how they’re approaching the rapidly evolving Democratic contest. That’s a challenge for Biden as he seeks a commanding win in South Carolina on Saturday. After disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, he can’t afford losing much black support here, which could leave him with a narrow victory or, even worse, in second place.
A national Washington Post-Ipsos poll conducted in January found Sanders with an advantage among black voters under 35, even as Biden had a big lead among black Democratic voters overall. That poll was conducted before any of the primary contests began. But his rivals aren’t ceding the state, sensing Biden’s vulnerabilities. Billionaire Tom Steyer has flooded the airwaves with millions of dollars of television advertising. Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will hold events across the state this week. And Sanders plans to hold at least four large rallies, which tend to attract young voters, between Wednesday and Friday.
“And by that, I mean, I am looking at who is the candidate that is most likely to be able to beat Trump,” said Loney, who works as legal counsel for poor people in South Carolina.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Clyburn poised to endorse Biden in big boost before S.C. primaryHouse Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who wields enormous influence in his home state of South Carolina, is planning to endorse Joe Biden on Wednesday
Read more »
Biden's South Carolina advantage shrinksThe latest NBC News/WSJ poll shows that Biden fares best among all Democrats with African-American voters, but the gap is not as wide as one might think.
Read more »
Biden's South Carolina advantage shrinks among key votersNew NBCNews/Wall Street Journal poll suggests that Joe Biden fares best among all the Democrats with the number of African American voters who are 'comfortable with' or 'enthusiastic' about him — but the gap is not as wide as one might think.
Read more »
Sanders wins Nevada and also trounces competitors with Latino and Hispanic caucus-goersLatino caucus-goers overwhelmingly supported Bernie Sanders in Nevada, according to entrance polls
Read more »
Joe Biden Faces Competition for Diverse Coalition From Bernie SandersFormer Vice President Biden has made the case for months that he can best appeal to black, Latino and moderate voters. But after the Nevada caucuses, Sen. Sanders is the one beginning to show the makings of a broad electoral coalition
Read more »