Hodges to endorse Clark for president
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Action gives huge boost to ex-general in S.C. campaign
By LEE BANDY
Staff Writer
Posted on Fri, Nov. 07, 2003
thestate.com
Former Gov. Jim Hodges will endorse retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark today for the Democratic presidential nomination.
It could be an important endorsement, given Hodges’ popularity among black voters, who are expected to make up at least half of the turnout in the first primary state with a substantial black voting population.
“This is a very important day for our campaign,” Eli Segal, chief executive officer of the Clark campaign based in Little Rock, Ark., told The State newspaper on Thursday.
Hodges, who lost his re-election bid after one term, could not be reached for comment.
The endorsement is a coup for the Clark campaign. All nine candidates have been courting the former governor. Hodges had been leaning toward U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
The most recent poll taken of South Carolina primary voters by the American Research Group, had Clark leading with 17 percent. U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was his closest rival with 10 percent. Kerry was near the bottom in single digits.
The South Carolina presidential primary, the first in the South, is set for Feb. 3.
Clark canceled all his events today so he could be present with Hodges. The announcement will take place at 12:45 p.m. at the Airport campus of Midlands Technical College.
Scott Anderson, state director for the Clark campaign, said the endorsement is “huge.” He said Hodges will play an active role in the campaign.
Anderson said recent internal Democratic party polls showed Hodges to be the most popular Democrat in the state. He said Hodges is particularly strong among African-American voters, who are expected to make up a majority of the primary voters. |
