Clinton’s Black Supporters Now Runnin’ Scared

Sen. Obama and Rep. John Lewis, pictured.

“Barack Obama’s resounding victory in Iowa is creating intense pressure on black leaders who have backed Hillary Clinton, and it has exposed a generation gap between cautious older black preachers and politicians and their younger counterparts and students.

“Early on, Mrs. Clinton lined up support among the established leaders of the civil-rights era, including former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta, as well as several members of the Congressional Black Caucus. On the ground in South Carolina, her campaign said she has more than twice as many endorsements as Mr. Obama from black politicians and preachers. Mr. Obama’s top black endorsers include Oprah Winfrey and the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson (though Mr. Jackson’s wife, Jacqueline, backs Mrs. Clinton).

“Now, for many black voters, Mr. Obama’s Iowa victory, in a state dominated by white voters, is muting the concern that Mr. Obama couldn’t be elected nationwide. The problem facing many black supporters of Mrs. Clinton: how to oppose a black man anointed a presidential front-runner by an overwhelmingly white state.

TheStateOf . . . Obama-Clinton. I’m (J) having trouble understanding why more African Americans are now supporting Obama only because it now “looks like he can win.” Can someone please explain?

Update: New Hampshire primary rules allow certain towns with populations of under 100 to open voting at midnight and to close after all registered voters have cast their ballot. Barack Obama and John McCain have already won in those two towns.