Orangeburg, S.C., professor takes stock of Palmetto state’s role in presidential politics

Jackie R. Booker is associate professor of history at Claflin University, a historically black institution in Orangeburg, S.C. that is next door to another HBCU, South Carolina State University. A native of North Carolina, he has lived in South Carolina for 10 years.

Dear Joint Center Journal:

The reception for (Sen. Barack) Obama last night (Jan. 22) at South Carolina State University was tremendous. Students began lining up at 5 p.m., and he was not scheduled to speak until about 8 p.m. The capacity of Smith-Hammond-Middleton Auditorium is about 1,000 or a little more, and it was packed.  This was his second trip to the SCSU campus, and it was like the first trip, a movement for many students and community people.

Obama spoke for 40 minutes on a variety of issues. Some students were overcome with excitement with Obama. But I would ask, ‘how many are registered to vote and will vote on Saturday?’
 
The role of Claflin University students will not be significant in the campaign.  At this small campus, many students have shown little interest in the primary and are not up on the issues from each candidate.  Granted, a small number have volunteered for each candidate (Clinton, Obama, and Edwards), but they are not wearing campaign buttons, etc. every day.
 
My sense is that blacks in general are excited about the role South Carolina will have in this campaign, not just students.  There is always some apathy among students, but in general, many people, black and white, are excited about voting this Saturday.  Obama leads in the polls by 10 points, and I suspect he will carry the black vote, male and female (especially the latter). It seems that Obama's campaign in the state has more energy, some of it infused when Obama and Oprah attracted some 40,000 people to (the University of South Carolina’s) Williams Brice Stadium -- a football stadium half full.This primary will be historic in that blacks are likely to cast 50 percent of all votes.  The weather will be good on Saturday so that will increase the percentage of those participating.
 
Obama has been to SCSU twice, while Sen. Clinton spoke at Claflin's June 2007 Commencement.  Bill Clinton came to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, but by far, Obama has attracted larger crowds and there is more enthusiasm for
Obama, especially among Black women.

Overall, it seems that the Democratic candidates, especially Obama, have come to more campuses than the Republicans.

Generally speaking, most Republicans have not visited any of the historically black colleges or universities in the state that I am aware of.

(Mike) Huckabee went to Clemson, and I read that attendance was not good. Most often, Republicans go to Greenville, Spartanburg, or Charleston but not to college campuses in those cities.  Fred Thompson did have a good crowd (about 200 people) at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College last week but of course he has dropped out of the race.
 
There is more excitement on Claflin’s and State's campuses because of the candidacy of Obama. He has really energized young people, especially at S. C. State where they had the first Democratic debate last fall.  There was a tremendous buzz in the community before, during, and after that debate, and Obama, more so than Sen. Clinton, had kept that buzz going.

Where Obama has seemed to really engage people here is in the black churches.  Some people have dubbed him the young "King" (in reference to a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and for me that is too bad; African Americans need to stop looking for a "messiah" in every young African American male who comes along and offers a social, economic, or political agenda.  There was only one Dr. King.  There will never be another one.
 
There was one bus from Claflin at the King Day at the statehouse dome celebration (in the state capital of Columbia), attended by some 8,000 people on a cold day.  The demonstration permit predicted 5,000, so that number was easily exceeded but did not come near the 20,000 plus who attended the rally in 2000 to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse dome. It was removed in a compromise in 2001 but remains on the grounds of the statehouse, still symbolic of race hatred and oppression.

Many students attended, not only from Claflin but also from Benedict College and Allen University, (two other historically black colleges) both in Columbia, from Morris College in Sumter and from S. C. State.  It would be hard to guess how many, but several hundred would be a good start.
 
Few students attended the Democratic candidates’ debate in Myrtle Beach. With the debate on a Tuesday night, most would have classes the next day. It’s likely that some students from Florence (Coastal Carolina University and other schools in the region) likely attended.  Few of the candidates have spent much time in the area, except Edwards.
 
I have had limited political involvement.  I have, however, read extensively on each one of the candidates both in local newspapers and national papers as well as magazines. I am old fashioned in that I still get most of my news from printed sources.
 
My wife Kathy and I have not discussed the candidates, in terms of our voting preferences.

The more I read about Edwards, the more I am convinced, although he will not get the nomination, that he is the best of the three.  Polls indicate that he might get 15 percent of the vote Saturday, although he won the primary in 2004.  Obama may be too liberal for most of the country, with his skin color another factor. Some whites, no matter what they say in exit polls, will not vote for a black candidate.  Sen. Clinton is a moderate on most issues and thus not radical enough for me; but she presents the Democrats' best chance of winning in November.

Who will I vote for on Saturday?  It will be voting-time decision.


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