SC state Rep Harold Mitchell endorses Hillary Clinton

By Jason Spencer
Published: Monday, October 15, 2007

Citing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's work on environmental justice and legislation she has introduced to promote affordable housing, South Carolina state Rep. Harold Mitchell said Sunday he is now supporting Clinton's presidential bid over rival Democrat Sen. Barack Obama.

While endorsements run rampant during presidential election cycles, Mitchell's switch highlights two points of contention in the tug-of-war between Clinton and Obama.

First, the black vote is critical in this state's Democratic primary, so Mitchell - who is black - throwing his support behind Clinton carries a bit more weight than usual. Second, in an interview Sunday, Mitchell talked about Clinton's leadership in the Senate on issues that matter to him and his ReGenesis organization. That fits in with what her campaign has been pushing, while Obama has been trying to step away from what some call a lack of experience.

The Clinton campaign circulated an excerpt from a National Public Radio interview with Obama this weekend in which the Illinois senator downplayed the importance of endorsements. An Obama spokesman late Sunday declined comment.

More at the link - http://www.goupstate.com/article/20071015/NEWS/710150313/1051/NEWS01

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