Blacks in Congress Torn Over Candidates
Some Weighing a Shift From Clinton to Obama
Washington Post
By Shailagh Murray and Paul Kane
Saturday, February 16, 2008
African American members of Congress, many under enormous pressure from their constituents, are grappling with the question of whether they should abandon their support of Hillary Rodham Clinton and back Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
On Thursday, Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), a civil rights icon who endorsed Clinton last fall, wavered publicly in his backing of her after a series of private conversations with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). He and his aides declined yesterday to say whether he had formally withdrawn his endorsement or plans to support Obama in his role as a Democratic superdelegate, but colleagues said such doubts are echoing throughout the CBC.
“A lot of members who made commitments a year ago based on prevailing thought are having some real trepidations,” said Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), who has remained neutral in the race.
