Clinton gaffe over Martin Luther King may cost votes in South Carolina
Tim Reid of The Times, in Washington
Barack Obama received twin boosts today as he and Hillary Clinton competed for black and Hispanic votes, throwing the issue of race centre stage in the Democratic presidential contest.
In South Carolina, a major showdown on January 26 where half the Democratic electorate is African American, one of the state’s most influential black congressman hinted he might endorse Mr Obama.
He said he was angered by what he claims were dismissive comments about Martin Luther King by Mrs Clinton.
James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress and a veteran of the civil rights movement, referred to comments made by Mrs Clinton on Monday, the day before her stunning comeback win New Hampshire set up a brutal nomination battle with Mr Obama. Mrs Clinton, trying to make a point about presidential leadership and Mr Obama’s constant references to Dr King, the Civil Rights icon, said: “Dr King’s dream began to be realised when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It took a president to get it done.”
Mrs Clinton has since tried to clarify the comment, but the damage was done. Mr Clyburn, who had previously said he would stay neutral, told The New York Times that he had been “bothered a great deal” by the remarks and was rethinking his position.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3173652.ece