Democratic voters in South Carolina are heading to the polls today to cast votes for one of seven presidential candidates who are actively campaigning.
This state is the fourth to vote in 2020, but the first in the South and also the first where African Americans make up a majority of the Democratic electorate.
As a result, Georgians for the first time are watching the results of a primary that reflects the demographics of their state. What happens in South Carolina tonight can provide clues about which candidates do well when Georgia holds its primary on March 24.
Former Vice President Joe Biden was the early favorite here, and recent polls showed him in still in lead among likely voters. Billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer spent heavily in the Palmetto State and also is expected to do well.
Surging after a close second-place finish in Iowa followed by wins in New Hampshire and Nevada is U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. His brand of democratic socialism continues to attract young and progressive voters nationwide.
Also on the ballot is U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not, as his focus is on states voting on Super Tuesday in just a few days.
AJC reporters have been in South Carolina all week speaking to voters about the candidates and the issues that are most important to them. Here is some news and updates from the trail:
Black women voters still find inspiration in Stacey Abrams
The woman who nearly became Georgia’s governor is still on the minds of Democratic voters everywhere, but especially fellow black women.
Stacey Abrams' name came up multiple times during panel discussions at the "Power of the Sister Vote" town hall in Charleston on Thursday night. The nonpartisan event focused on how black women could harness their power as an important voting bloc in the Democratic Party.
Andrea Casey of Johns Island, S.C., answered a question about what candidates can do to earn the support of women of color by saying the eventual nominee should ensure Abrams is in his or her cabinet.
“I’m not opposed to Stacey Abrams being VP or the attorney general, but she needs to be in one of those positions,” said Casey, who serves as state president of the National Council of Negro Women.
Later in the discussion, Abrams’ efforts to engage new voters in 2018 was mentioned as a winning strategy for Democrats. If more black voters had showed up on Election Day in Georgia, one of the panelists said, Abrams might have pulled out a win.
Both comments were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Atlanta rapper Killer Mike stumps for Bernie Sanders
Atlanta native Michael Render, better known by his rap alias Killer Mike, fired up the crowd during Sanders’ rally in Columbia on Friday.
“I came for the BS, and I don’t mean the bulls---,” he told the hundreds who gathered at a downtown park on a chilly afternoon.
Render said Democrats should be looking for candidates who have called for drastic changes in healthcare, policing, the education system and improving the economy.
“We don’t have time to wait,” Render said. “We don’t have time to ponder. We don’t have time to wonder. We don’t have time to be divided because we are black, white, gay, straight, male, female. We don’t have time for bulls---.”
Later, he led the crowd in call and response. “We want progress and we want it...” “Now!”
Render also supported Sanders during the 2016 primary that he lost to Hillary Clinton, and he later was criticized after saying he would not vote for Clinton or Donald Trump in the general election.
Atlanta activists asks Biden to check Mayor Bottoms
Atlanta residents who have protested Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city's use of eminent domain to seize properties in the Peoplestown neighborhood took their concerns to South Carolina.
Led by former state Sen. Vincent Fort, they approached former Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign event Friday morning in Sumter.
Fort is a political opponent of Bottoms who lost to her in the 2017 mayoral race. Lately he has been assisting Peoplestown residents who believe Bottoms has ignored their concerns about gentrification.
He said that he and resident Tanya Washington attended the Biden event, and during the Q&A period Washington asked Biden to tell Bottoms to stop the razing of homes in the historic black neighborhood.
“You can tell he was taken aback,” Fort said. “He didn’t expect that question.”
Video from the event posted on Youtube shows Washington speaking although her question is not audible. Biden tells her he doesn't know anything about the issue but that he supports Bottoms.
“By the way I think she is a great mayor though,” Biden said. She has been a wonderful mayor, and I think she has done a great job. But I will check it out.”
A Biden staffer asked for Washington’s information and promised to follow up, Fort said, but soon after they were surrounded by officers and told to leave the property.
Fort said it was even more dramatic later that night when the group of activists grew to 15 and attended Biden’s event at Wofford College in Spartanburg. The group again questioned Biden about Bottoms and this time one of the activists made his way on stage with a sign but was escorted soon after, Fort said.
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