Some S.C. Democrats Still Back Sanders

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is cutting campaign staff as his White House hopes dim, but some S.C. Democrats backing the U.S. senator from Vermont are not willing – yet – to concede the fight for their party’s presidential nomination. 

Still, S.C. Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison called Saturday for solidarity as Democrats gathered for their state convention to choose the delegates who will help pick the party’s nominee in July. 

“We have to remember who and what we’re fighting for,” said Harrison, one of six S.C. superdelegates to the Philadelphia convention. Harrison pledged his support for Clinton after she won the state’s primary in a 3-to-1 rout.

As Republicans decide their nominee, “We cannot allow ourselves to be divided and allow them to win,” Harrison said.

More than 1,000 S.C. Democrats showed up Saturday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center to elect delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, mentioned in his some circles as possible vice presidential candidate, gave the keynote address. Attendees also heard from the party’s lineup of candidates for the U.S. House and Senate.

Another Clinton supporter, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, also made attempts to soothe any tensions that might be left between Clinton and Sanders supporters.

“I don’t have a thing but respect for Bernie Sanders,” said the U.S. House assistant Democratic leader, adding Sanders was his go-to senator to get support for community health care centers in the Affordable Care Act.

Calling for unity, Clyburn said, “We cannot get so upset about the results of the primary that we lose sight of what needs to happen in November.”

Sanders supporters from Columbia and elsewhere in Clyburn’s 6th District sat in a sparsely filled cluster of chairs in part of the convention center’s ballroom. Across the aisle, Clinton’s supporters packed chairs that filled an entire side of the room.

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