A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

19 February 2016

Why should Democrats care about the South Carolina primary?

After realizing she would be steamrollered in the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton’s campaign began arguing that her loss there mattered little because New Hampshire was too white while South Carolina “looked more like America,” meaning the Palmetto State has more black residents.

And South Carolina does. According to data from Pew, in 2012, blacks comprised 27 percent of South Carolina’s voting eligible population, but just one percent of New Hampshire’s. That puts New Hampshire 11 points below the national mean of 12 percent — and South Carolina 15 points above the mean. In that sense, both states are outliers.

That’s just one difference. Here are others:

Why should Democrats care about South Carolina? It doesn’t look more like America than New Hampshire. It hates organized labor. And it won’t supply one electoral vote for the Democratic nominee for President.