Clyburn says he's surprised Booker, Harris haven't taken off in South Carolina

[DonViejo]

By QUINT FORGEY 06/21/2019 01:02 PM EDT

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn revealed that he anticipated “much more of a surge” in support for 2020 Democrats Cory Booker and Kamala Harris in his home state of South Carolina — an early primary test of presidential candidates’ appeal to black voters.

Clyburn, a 14-term lawmaker and the highest-ranking African American in Congress, told NBC News in an interview published Friday that Booker and Harris have "been a little bit of amazement to me as well, because I thought for sure that there would be much more of a surge and I can't quite figure that out yet.”

Clyburn offered assessments of why the two U.S. senators, both people of color, have not presented a more credible challenge to former Vice President Joe Biden, who tops the expansive field of Democratic White House contenders in South Carolina. More than 60 percent of the state’s Democratic voters are African American.

Clyburn said Booker, of New Jersey, “is suffering from the shadows, coming out from under the shadows of Barack Obama," and charged that Harris, of California, "hasn't spelled out the policy stuff with her vision."

"Of course, I just thought Kamala because this just seemed to be the year of the black woman. I thought she would be surging a little more than she is," Clyburn said.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/21/clyburn-booker-harris-south-carolina-1376284

[SouthernProgressive]

1. I agree with him. There is still a lot of time.

I have great respect and appreciation for both. I think they will both gain some if they keep hitting it hard.

[underthematrix]

2. 'm African American and female and would like to respond to this from my

perspective in a respectful manner. Do I have your permission?

[Turin_C3PO]

4. You certainly don't need permission to speak your mind.

I’m interested in your thoughts on the matter.

[Cha]

11. Please tell us what you think, underthematrix!

[calguy]

3. I'm not surprised.

while both candidates are good, just being black doesn't make them more qualified than the front runner. Black voters are looking at qualifications more than race.

[underthematrix]

6. This is so true. Black women are the most educated female group in America. And they tend to vote

for the common good and not just their own good.

[Skya Rhen]

7. Perfectly said - we look out for the best interest of the country as a whole

not our selfish desire for our preferred candidate to win, by any means necessary...

[Cha]

12. Thank You! I know ya'll do!

[tishaLA]

5. Of course Pres Obama didn't really take off in SC until he won Iowa

there's plenty of time for either (most likely Sen Harris) to take off.

[pangaia]

8. So he thinks they would be more popular in SC just because they are... black?

Unless, I missed something, it seems to me like that is not giving some black folks in SC much credit.

[Skya Rhen]

9. Harris and Booker should be receiving more than 2% regardless - that bar is not very high...

[customerserviceguy]

10. I was, too

but in discussions I've had (clearly not a representative sample) I've heard two things about Booker and Harris.

First, Booker is hard for African-Americans to relate to in the South. He's vegan, and a tiny minority of people around here are like that. No matter what color we are, we like our barbecue, our fried chicken, our shrimp, and our ribs.

Second, Harris is too "West Coast" for the folks I've talked to. Her family has not lived the full "being black in America" experience that African-American folks here have had. Also, at least one person mentioned that when it came time for her to marry, a black man wasn't good enough. Some others shook their heads knowingly.

Third, black voters I've talked to admire Joe Biden for being part of the successful Obama administration, and that goes a long way with them. Silly stuff like being clumsy about talking how he worked with some really nasty Dixiecrats doesn't bother them.

[question everything]

13. Obviusly, the voters of South Carolina follow MLK's dream

They judge the candidates not by by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

And while Booker and Harris are at the promise stage, Biden, as Obama VP has a proven record.