Clyburn talks endorsement plans, down ballot fears and Biden’s must-win in SC
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat and the third ranking Democrat in the U.S. House — told The State on Sunday that he is hearing concerns from South Carolina Democrats about what it will mean for down ballot races if U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, tops the ballot in November.
“They’re concerned,” Clyburn said.
“And I’ll tell anybody, I’m here to build a future for my children, my grandchildren and all other children similarly situated,” Clyburn continued. “And they tell me, what they hear from people out there, gives them great concern about the impact.”
Clyburn told The State recently he has made up his mind who he’ll vote for, but he’s abstained from saying publicly, promising to announce his endorsement “Wednesday morning, after the debate.”
“I made a commitment to the media sponsors of the debate, and to the CBCI (Congressional Black Caucus Institute) that I would not do it before the debate,” which will be aired live Tuesday night in Charleston.
But Clyburn said his pick will be someone who can help local elected officials win, including his former congressional aide Jaime Harrison, whom he often calls a son and who is running to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. Harrison, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has broken records in raising more than $7 million according to federal election filings.
And it’s not just Harrison’s race Clyburn said he’s intent on winning.
He also mentioned Democrats Moe Brown, the former University of South Carolina football player running for the 5th District Congressional seat, currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, and former Department of Justice attorney Adair Boroughs, who is running for the 2nd District Congressional seat now held by Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.
“I’m looking to have a strong ticket that they can run with and then state legislative races,” Clyburn said.
Most signs point to former Vice President Joe Biden being Clyburn’s likely pick, including Biden’s own confidence on the matter. Biden told Brian Williams in a post debate interview on MSNBC last week that he thinks he’ll get Clyburn’s endorsement.
But Clyburn also heaped praise on other candidates, conceding “Bernie has more energy in this campaign than anybody.”
“I think he’s done a great job,” Clyburn said. “I think Elizabeth Warren does a great job. I love Amy (Klobuchar). I think she’s a great candidate.”
He also mentioned Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Clyburn’s grandson, Walter Clyburn Reed, is working on Buttigieg’s campaign.
He also praised Biden, who is polling at the top of South Carolina’s Democratic contest, even though challengers, namely Sanders and California billionaire Tom Steyer, have chopped away at his lead.
“I think Joe Biden has a long history with South Carolina. Nobody can deny that,” Clyburn said. “He has relationships here that people aren’t going to ever come between. I think that’s the main reason he’s still running ahead here in this state.”
Biden also needs to win South Carolina, Clyburn said.
Not winning in South Carolina after failing to place first in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, would place Biden in a “precarious position,” he said.
