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Why Some SC Democrats Are Not Backing Front-Runner Clinton - TheState
Why some SC Democrats are not backing front-runner ClintonClinton has support from several influential S.C. Democrats
But some are picking long shots US Sen. Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley
Former Obama donors in S.C. slow to give financial support to frontrunner
By JAMIE SELF - TheState
November 28, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC - Inez Tenenbaum got a call from the Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton a few weeks ago.
“We had a very nice talk about issues important to her and to me,” said Tenenbaum, a former Democratic S.C. superintendent of education and Obama administration official, and a supporter of a potential Vice President Joe Biden presidential bid until he decided not to run.
“I pledged my support to her (Clinton) that day,” Tenenbaum told The State newspaper last week, thus becoming the latest influential S.C. Democrat to back the candidate most likely to become the party’s nominee.
Clinton has been building a strong campaign network in the state. Her coalitions include Democratic mayors, state legislators, women and grassroots activists.
Leading in early nominating states’ contests, Clinton has her greatest advantage in South Carolina’s Democratic primary at 50-percentage points. That makes the Palmetto State a firewall for Clinton if she happens to lose in Iowa and New Hampshire, whose voters are the first and second to pick their preferred nominee.
Clinton’s campaign coffers also are swamping her opponents.
But while Clinton has clear advantages over her opponents, some S.C. Democrats are placing their bets elsewhere – preferring to back the underdog U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders or former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
And some Palmetto State donors who gave the most to Obama’s two presidential bids have not yet given to Clinton, which could be a sign of her strength and that of allied super PACS, or a lack of enthusiasm to invest in the campaign, some S.C. Democrats said.
S.C. Rep. James Smith, a Richland Democrat who also wanted Biden to run, said no matter how the candidates are doing in the polls, state Democratic voters will back the candidates they like best.
“We’ve never been a party that just gets in line,” he said.
“We had a very nice talk about issues important to her and to me,” said Tenenbaum, a former Democratic S.C. superintendent of education and Obama administration official, and a supporter of a potential Vice President Joe Biden presidential bid until he decided not to run.
“I pledged my support to her (Clinton) that day,” Tenenbaum told The State newspaper last week, thus becoming the latest influential S.C. Democrat to back the candidate most likely to become the party’s nominee.
Clinton has been building a strong campaign network in the state. Her coalitions include Democratic mayors, state legislators, women and grassroots activists.
Leading in early nominating states’ contests, Clinton has her greatest advantage in South Carolina’s Democratic primary at 50-percentage points. That makes the Palmetto State a firewall for Clinton if she happens to lose in Iowa and New Hampshire, whose voters are the first and second to pick their preferred nominee.
Clinton’s campaign coffers also are swamping her opponents.
But while Clinton has clear advantages over her opponents, some S.C. Democrats are placing their bets elsewhere – preferring to back the underdog U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders or former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
And some Palmetto State donors who gave the most to Obama’s two presidential bids have not yet given to Clinton, which could be a sign of her strength and that of allied super PACS, or a lack of enthusiasm to invest in the campaign, some S.C. Democrats said.
S.C. Rep. James Smith, a Richland Democrat who also wanted Biden to run, said no matter how the candidates are doing in the polls, state Democratic voters will back the candidates they like best.
“We’ve never been a party that just gets in line,” he said.
And...
Some Palmetto State Democrats say they are backing O’Malley or Sanders because they want an alternative to Clinton – whose years spent in Washington as a first lady, a U.S. senator and then as the secretary of state make her part of the Beltway establishment, some said.
State Rep. Terry Alexander, D-Florence, supported Clinton in ’08, but now is backing Sanders, though not because he dislikes Clinton. The African-American legislator recently told The State newspaper that Sanders’ message is more in line with the needs of working people and minorities.
Backing O’Malley is state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw – the 2010 and 2014 Democratic nominee for governor who had help from O’Malley on the campaign trail.
“The more that this race progresses, the question is, do we look to the past or do we look to the future?” Sheheen said.
“O’Malley is the candidate that represents the future. ... He has spent the last decade dealing with problems that affect everyday people.”
Other Democratic presidential candidates, Sheheen added, “have been part of the Washington establishment.”
Clinton is “stuck in the ’80s and ’90s, and we live in an entirely new world now,” said Boyd Brown, a Democratic National Committeeman and co-chair of O’Malley’s S.C. campaign.
“Her husband’s administration did great things for the country, but those days are over,” Brown added.
Brown also said he does not want to see Clinton elected because he’s “tired of giving the United States Congress an excuse not to work.”
State Rep. Terry Alexander, D-Florence, supported Clinton in ’08, but now is backing Sanders, though not because he dislikes Clinton. The African-American legislator recently told The State newspaper that Sanders’ message is more in line with the needs of working people and minorities.
Backing O’Malley is state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw – the 2010 and 2014 Democratic nominee for governor who had help from O’Malley on the campaign trail.
“The more that this race progresses, the question is, do we look to the past or do we look to the future?” Sheheen said.
“O’Malley is the candidate that represents the future. ... He has spent the last decade dealing with problems that affect everyday people.”
Other Democratic presidential candidates, Sheheen added, “have been part of the Washington establishment.”
Clinton is “stuck in the ’80s and ’90s, and we live in an entirely new world now,” said Boyd Brown, a Democratic National Committeeman and co-chair of O’Malley’s S.C. campaign.
“Her husband’s administration did great things for the country, but those days are over,” Brown added.
Brown also said he does not want to see Clinton elected because he’s “tired of giving the United States Congress an excuse not to work.”
Link: http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article47007095.html
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