Jim Clyburn, ‘Kingmaker of South Carolina Politics,’ Endorses Biden Ahead of Primary

February 26, 2020 by Dan McCue
Jim Clyburn, ‘Kingmaker of South Carolina Politics,’ Endorses Biden Ahead of Primary
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, with former Vice President Joe Biden at the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, S.C. Feb. 27, 2020. (Photo by Dan McCue)

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, widely considered to be the political kingmaker in South Carolina, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden Wednesday, just three days ahead of the nation’s First in the South primary.

The endorsement was announced minutes after the two men shared the stage at a ministers’ breakfast hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, S.C.

During the morning event, which also featured speeches by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttgieg,  Billionaire Tom Steyer, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Biden and Clyburn did little to suggest the endorsement was imminent.

The tip off was that Biden and Clyburn left the event together, shortly after both men had addressed the audience, and immediately after Clyburn, who has represented South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District since 1993, gave a warm welcome to Klobuchar who was just about to speak.

Clyburn’s endorsement is expected to give a boost to Biden’s campaign. In some recent polls Biden has appeared to be losing ground to Sanders, who pulled off a double-digit win in the Nevada caucuses a week ago.

In his endorsement, Clyburn said South Carolinians believe the best way to tell what a person will do is to look at what he or she has done in the past.

“I know Joe Biden. I know his character, his heart, and his record,” Clyburn said. “Joe Biden has stood for the hard-working people of South Carolina. We know Joe. But more importantly, he knows us.”

Clyburn went on to say he believes Biden will build on President Barack Obama’s legacy by protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act, and “taking on” the National Rifle Association.

“In South Carolina, we choose presidents. When President Clinton came to South Carolina, we launched him to the White House. When President Obama came to South Carolina, we launched him to the White House. Now Joe Biden is in South Carolina, and we are going to launch him to the White House,” he said.

Biden was warmly greeted as an old friend at the event, which was attended by church and secular leaders of South Carolina’s African-American community.

Among the other candidates who appeared, Buttigieg was the most enthusiastically received, his remarks repeatedly inspiring applause from the audience, followed by Klobuchar.

In fact, after Klobuchar finished speaking, Sharpton threw his arm around her and directed her attention to Roland Martin, the black journalist and commentator who was sitting in the audience.

Sharpton suggested the Minnisota senator get to know Martin, whom Ebony Magazine has repeatedly listed as one of the 150 Most Influential African-Americans in the United States.

“You want to be president, we call Roland Martin the president of South Carolina,” the reverend said.

Interestingly Tom Steyer appeared to receive the coolest reception, and was the only candidate asked to cut his remarks short — this despite his strenuous efforts to court the black community.

As for Bernie Sanders, his biggest applause came not when he was talking about his own policies, but when he was bashing President Donald Trump, who will be traveling to North Charleston for a rally on Friday evening.

Elizabeth Warren fared slightly better than Steyer — her remarks weren’t cut short — but she appeared to be trying too hard to court the audience with extended comments about her own religious upbringing. When she left the stage, passing Sanders, she offered her fellow progressive only a perfunctory handshake.

A+
a-
  • James Clyburn
  • Joe Biden
  • South Carolina primary
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    2020 Elections

    June 20, 2025
    by Tom Ramstack
    Senate Committee Investigates FBI Report of Chinese Influence in 2020 Election

    WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee is looking into an FBI report that the Chinese government tried to influence the... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee is looking into an FBI report that the Chinese government tried to influence the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. The report was declassified by FBI Director Kash Patel and transmitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.... Read More

    May 14, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Former NYC Mayor to Pay $330K for Misusing Public Funds in White House Bid

    WASHINGTON — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, once a rising progressive light in the Democratic Party, has... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, once a rising progressive light in the Democratic Party, has agreed to pay $329,794 to settle an ethics board finding that he misspent public funds for security during his failed run for president six years ago.... Read More

    January 13, 2025
    by Tom Ramstack
    Judge Allows Release of Report on Trump Election Interference Case

    MIAMI — A federal judge ruled Monday the Justice Department can release its investigative report into accusations that President-elect Donald... Read More

    MIAMI — A federal judge ruled Monday the Justice Department can release its investigative report into accusations that President-elect Donald Trump violated federal law by interfering with the 2020 presidential election. Election interference was one of two allegations in the report prepared by special prosecutor Jack... Read More

    August 5, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Former Trump Campaign Attorney Flips in Arizona Fake Electors Case

    PHOENIX — A one-time campaign attorney for former President Donald Trump has agreed to help prosecutors in Arizona’s so-called “fake... Read More

    PHOENIX — A one-time campaign attorney for former President Donald Trump has agreed to help prosecutors in Arizona’s so-called “fake electors case” stemming from the 2020 election. Jenna Ellis, who had been one of 18 defendants in the case, along with, among others, former White House... Read More

    June 26, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Kinzinger Visits Georgia to Praise Biden, Bury Trump

    ATLANTA — Four years ago, Georgia election officials stood at the bottom of a marble staircase in the state’s historic... Read More

    ATLANTA — Four years ago, Georgia election officials stood at the bottom of a marble staircase in the state’s historic Capitol building to assure the American people that the 2020 presidential election had not been rigged to prevent former President Donald Trump’s reelection. On Wednesday, former... Read More

    Arizona Indicts 18 in Election Interference Case, Including Giuliani and Meadows

    PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump 's chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others... Read More

    PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump 's chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their roles in an attempt to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The indictment released Wednesday names 11 Republicans who submitted... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top