New Hampshire? Feh! I'm waiting on the pundits' spin after February 3rd--
Sharpton factor makes South Carolina primary unique
Donna Edwards wants to send a message with her vote for the Rev. Al Sharpton in South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary next month.
"Being black, I am always going to support black politicians because they speak for me," said Edwards, who teaches dance at Benedict College.
South Carolina polls show the race is wide open, but Sharpton has energized voters throughout the state's sizable black population and polls show him bunched near the top with Howard Dean, Wesley Clark and John Edwards.
"Al Sharpton has been making a very good impression," said the state's only black congressman, Jim Clyburn, who backed fellow Rep. Dick Gephardt before he dropped out of the race. "Al Sharpton has been very substantive in a very entertaining sort of way."
Sharpton has spent much of his time campaigning in South Carolina, where blacks make up about 30% of the population and could make up as many as half of the state's Democratic voters in the state's primary Feb. 3.
"I want to make sure we have enough delegate strength that we will be heard in Boston," Sharpton said of the national party convention site. "I think that we can win. The worst we can do is make sure that we are not ignored." [ more ]
G-d forbid Sharpton places 3rd or even 2nd in the primary. All hell will break loose (expect to hear about Tawana and Freddy's!)
Posted by ronn at January 27, 2004 08:16 AM