The highest-ranking African-American in Congress will endorse Hillary Clinton during a Friday morning event at Allen University, according to sources close to the campaign.
South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, House Assistant Democratic Leader and former Congressional Black Caucus chairman, is expected to announce his support of Clinton during a rally at 11 a.m. Friday.
The support should give the former secretary of state’s presidential bid a much-needed boost. Polling released by Fox News Thursday found Bernie Sanders surpassed Clinton for the first time among national voters.
Clinton staffers said the announcement will be a “momentous” one, coming just days before the First in the South primary on Feb. 27. Clyburn’s backing could help Clinton secure more of the one-third of South Carolinians who are African-Americans. Clinton has waged a strong battle for blacks in recent weeks, echoing the president’s message to fight economic inequality among minorities.
