everything. voters believed it. the media believed it. and even most political insiders there was no black political figure in the history of the state of south carolina that had more influence with black voters, either inside carolina or across the deep south. james clyburn wanted to endorse biden, in fact, he had no intention of endorsing any other candidate, but he could also see how badly the wheels had come off biden s campaign earlier and he was a savvy enough politician to know that there was not much point in endorsing someone who would lose. on the uss yorktown the night before the debate, clyburn and a few of his cbc colleagues offered biden counsel and made one amounted to a political ask. quote, find a way to say that you are a part of picking the first latino woman member of the united states supreme court, sotomayor, and that you are looking forward to making the first african american woman a member of the supreme court. clyburn believed, and there is good evidence to
pete buttigieg approached to greet the most powerful democrat in south carolina politics. clyburn brushed mayor pete aside, his eyes darted around, and he finally found biden. they huddled together out of earshot of the other candidates. there was not much time before biden had to be back on stage for the final segment of the debate. quote, you have had a couple of opportunities to mention naming a black woman to the supreme court, clyburn lectured his friend of nearly half a century, like a school teacher scolding a child. i m telling you, don t you leave the stage tonight without making it known that you will do that. biden had seem to get it the night before, when clyburn talked to him at a congressional black conk us reception aboard the uss yorktown, a decommissioned aircraft carrier that sat in charleston harbor biden was desperate to get clyburn s endorsement. very few endorsements carry weight in modern politics. in south carolina, though, a perception had built out that clyb
backstage area. pete buttigieg approached to greet the most powerful democrat in south carolina politics. clyburn brushed mayor pete assign and his eyes darted around and foundgn biden and he together out of earshot of the other candidates and there wasn t much time until bid-to be back on stage, you ve had a couple of opportunities to mention naming a black woman to the suprememe court. clyburn lectured his friend of nearly half acl century like a schoolteacher scolding a child. i m telling you, don t leave the stage without making it known. and biden had seemed to get it night before, when clyburn talked to him at a congressional black caucus reception aboard the uss yorktown. biden was desperateth to get clyburn s endorsement. very few endorsements carry weight in modern f politics. in south carolina though, awe perception that built up that clyburn s im prime tour meant everything. and and voters believed it and the media believed it and most
clyde burns imprimatur meant everything. voters believed it. the media believed it. and even most political insiders there was no black political figure in the history of the state of south carolina that had more influence with black voters, either inside carolina or across the deep south. james clyburn wanted to endorse biden, in fact, he had no intention of endorsing any other candidate, but he could also see how badly the wheels had come off biden s campaign earlier and he was a savvy enough politician to know that there was not much point in endorsing someone who would lose. on the uss yorktown the night before the debate, clyburn and a few of his cpc colleagues offered biden counsel and made one amounted to a political ask. quote, find a way to say that you are a part of picking the first latino woman member of the united states supreme court, sotomayor, and that you are looking forward to making the first african american woman a member of the supreme court. clyburn believed, a
vp s come and go, clyburn thought, i ll doris vice president. where is he now? but a supreme court seat, well, that is for life. the meeting on the yorktown was fresh in front of man for biden the next day as he prepared for that night s debate. he understood the difference between a narrow victory and a blowout. his margins with black voters. if he committed to naming a black woman to the united states supreme court, that might give him a lift. i think i should do, it he told his advisers. don t do it, simone sanders replied. speaking in concert with a group. if you wanted to do it at some point, his advisers agreed with one another, he should make a carefully consider dirty plan around announcing that. it was not the kind of thing he should just throw out there on a debate stage. besides, it might look like he was pandering and might backfire. biden was torn. but clyburn and his congressional black caucus colleagues believed their message had landed. so, the next night, he grew mor