In South Carolina, Young Black Voters Could Put Holes In Clinton's 'Firewall'
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But there may be a hitch. Increasingly, young black college-aged voters are turning lukewarm on Clinton.
At a gathering of University of South Carolina College Democrats this week, a group watching the results come in from New Hampshire was split fairly evenly between support for Sanders and Clinton. Only one USC student didn't raise his hand for either candidate — Michael Cauthen, a junior studying political science. He told NPR he was undecided.
Angela Bassett talks to students at South Carolina State University while campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton earlier this month.
Angela Bassett talks to students at South Carolina State University while campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton earlier this month.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
But upon further reflection, that changed. "I feel like both of the candidates have pretty similar past platforms," Cauthen said. "I think when Bernie Sanders entered the race, he definitely pulled Hillary to the left ... which I think is a good thing." And then, he said, "... ultimately I'm leaning Hillary. I do like Bernie and I think his policies are interesting. I don't know whether they're pragmatic." Cauthen, who is black, told NPR he'd vote for Clinton in the South Carolina primary and in the general election, should she be her party's nominee.
But, Cauthen was slow, if not afraid, to admit it. He said he still has reservations about some of Clinton's past positions, like her shift on a 2002 bankruptcy bill.
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/11/466356888/in-south-carolina-young-black-voters-could-put-holes-in-clintons-firewall
