Barack Obama may be the first sitting member of the Congressional Black Caucus to run for president in more than 30 years yet rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has the edge in endorsements among the group.
With the backing of California Rep.Diane Watson this week, the Clinton campaign counts 13 supporters in the 43-member group to Obama's 12. Although technically since Obama is a member and supporting himself, one could say they are tied.
The endorsements reflect the split of black voters, with the two candidates competing for their support. The only other sitting CBC member to run for president was Rep. Shirley Chisholm of New York, a founding member who ran in 1972.
Clinton and Obama appeared Friday before the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual legislative conference, and both got enthusiastic receptions.
Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., a CBC member who has endorsed Obama and was there to see him speak, attributed Clinton's endorsement lead to the greater number of members from Clinton's New York state as opposed to members from Obama's Illinois.
"It's a favorite son, favorite daughter issue," Bishop said. "Both of them are very attractive candidates to the African-American community. ... Bill Clinton was extremely well-liked and loved by a large number of people in the country, particularly African-Americans."
The home state advantage isn't that great. There are four CBC members from New York endorsing Clinton - Yvette Clark, Gregory Meeks, Charles Rangel and Edolphus Towns - and three from Illinois endorsing Obama - Danny Davis, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Bobby Rush.
According to the Clinton campaign, she also has been endorsed by Reps. Corrine Brown, Kendrick Meek and Alcee Hastings of Florida; Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands; Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri; Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas; Laura Richardson of California; and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio.
Obama also has the endorsements of Reps. Sanford Bishop and Hank Johnson of Georgia; Lacy Clay of Missouri; John Conyers of Michigan; Elijah Cummings of Maryland; Artur Davis of Alabama; Keith Ellison of Minnesota; Al Green of Texas; and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. The list was provided by the Clinton campaign and the Obama campaign did not dispute its accuracy.
John Edwards' campaign says it has the backing of four CBC members - G.K. Butterfield and Melvin Watt of North Carolina; Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas; and Albert Wynn of Maryland.
Ap.org
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