Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., raises hands with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, S.C., Thursday Jan. 29, 2004. Associated Press

Clyburn lends voice to Kerry

Candidate hopes to win black vote

COLUMBIA - Rep. Jim Clyburn knows his influence is deep in South Carolina, but he's ready to tap into his network of friends and supporters across the country as he stumps for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

Mr. Clyburn endorsed Mr. Kerry on Thursday, saying the Massachusetts senator has "the right stuff" to unite the country and beat President Bush in November.

"I told him I would be willing to do whatever he wants me to do within the time frame that my congressional schedule will allow," Mr. Clyburn said.

The six-term congressman and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said Mr. Kerry has asked him to campaign for him in California, Georgia and Florida for the "Super Tuesday" primaries March 2.

"Oh, yeah. I've got friends everywhere," Mr. Clyburn said with a grin.

South Carolina's top black Democrat said he would work to convince undecided voters to choose Mr. Kerry when they vote in the state's primary Tuesday.

Mr. Kerry had sought Mr. Clyburn's backing as part of his appeal to black voters. Blacks make up about 30 percent of South Carolina's population and might represent as many as half of those who vote in the first-in-the-South primary.

"His endorsement means a lot to me," Mr. Kerry said. "Jim Clyburn represents one of those leaders who in his 11 years in the United States Congress and his years as a teacher and his years as an activist has proven that he knows how to stay in touch with the real concerns of the people of this state."

Mr. Clyburn had endorsed longtime colleague Dick Gephardt before the Missouri congressman dropped out of the race after a fourth-place finish in Iowa.

After back-to-back victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Mr. Kerry gained Mr. Clyburn's support because he holds similar values and ideas as Mr. Gephardt, who fought for the working class.

Joining Mr. Kerry at a high-tech training center, Mr. Clyburn said Mr. Kerry offers the best hope for a state that has suffered job loss with the decline in the textile and tobacco industries.

The endorsement is a coup for Mr. Kerry, who also has the support of Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, South Carolina's highest-ranking Democrat.

When Mr. Clyburn compared the candidates' positions on jobs, education, health care and personal security, "there weren't much difference in them."

Mr. Kerry's military experience in Vietnam and his work in Congress to restore benefits to veterans were what made him stand out from the pack of seven candidates, Mr. Clyburn said.

"Here is a man who has a résumé who can come to South Carolina and can say to those veterans that, 'I was there for you in restoring those cuts,'" Mr. Clyburn said.

He said Mr. Kerry will be seen among South Carolina voters as more than just a New Englander.

"This man, John Kerry, has in his experiences, in his résumé, what it takes to be attractive to South Carolinians and to Southerners in general," the congressman said.

"We are a state that is steeped in a military tradition, and you cannot have a better military record than this gentleman has, and I believe that will wear very well with the people of South Carolina," he said.

Mr. Clyburn added that he wants people to see beyond labels.

"I know what it must be like for him to have to fight off that because I have been doing it every day of my life," Mr. Clyburn said.

--From the Friday, January 30, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle