Jan 22, 2008 6:34 pm US/Central
Black Women Hold Key To S.C. Democratic Primary
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (CBS) ―
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Democratic presidential politics has become a hot topic in black beauty salons across South Carolina. Barack Obama's campaign has even sent field organizers into salons to try to persuade voters.
CBS
Black female voters are expected to have a big impact on the outcome of Saturday's Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley talked to voters about the candidates.
At the Diva Beauty Salon on Tuesday, black women were talking politics like never before, because, for once, politicians are focusing on them.
"We have a lot of Barack Obama supporters. We have a few Hillary supporters. It's kind of split," hair stylist Nora Gause said.
"I don't feel targeted, I do feel valued," salon customer Joyce Buxton said.
African-American women register and turn out in larger numbers than African-American men. So they're expected to make up 30 percent of the voters in Saturday's Democratic primary, and polls show many are still making up their mind.
"The fact that large numbers of them are undecided means they're going to be the crown jewel of this Democratic primary election in South Carolina," Winthrop University assistant professor Scott Huffmon said.
That means both sides have set their sights on wooing them.
"As African-American women in South Carolina, we do realize our importance and the leverage that we hold," voter Azora Anderson said.
The Obama campaign has won hearts and votes by sending field organizers to persuade black women in non-traditional settings, like beauty shops.
That gesture deeply impressed salon owner Sharon Robinson. "That's why I'm supporting Obama, because he came to places other candidates never thought about going," she said.
And when polls showed many black women backed Clinton because of their affection for her husband, the Clinton campaign sent the former president here to build support.
But most black women don't see the election as a choice between race and gender.
"I'm black first, and then I'm a woman. This is history for us because this is the first time we've had a black run, and he's a viable candidate," Buxton said.
"I marched in Memphis with Martin Luther King, now I'm praying I will live to see a black president," salon client Rodessa Briggs said.
There's increasing evidence those undecided black women are beginning to move toward Obama. Political scientist Huffmon said there's been a slow trickle of undecideds and of soft Clinton supporters among women who are breaking for Obama.
The primary is Saturday, a very busy day in black beauty salons, but that's not expected to present any conflict. One hair stylist said, "We love to get our hair done. So we're all going to vote on Saturday and then we're going to come get our 'do."
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