Hillary Clinton secures support of Congressional Black Caucus

The Congressional Black Caucus has thrown its support behind Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton following her loss to Bernie Sanders in the New Hampshire Primary.

Polling just 38% to Sanders' 60.4%, Clinton is no doubt grateful for the potential boost in the upcoming South Carolina primary, where black voters make up around two thirds of the electorate.

In the Winthrop Poll of SC Democratic Presidential Primary Likely Voters at the end of 2015, it was estimated that Clinton would win as much of 80% of the vote in South Carolina's African American community, although Sanders' clear appeal to young voters could see Clinton lose younger black voters.

In a statement, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC said of Clinton: "As someone who consistently worked with the Congressional Black Caucus as a US senator from New York, she supported legislation to ban racial profiling, prosecute hate crimes, and eliminate racial disparities in the healthcare system. And she stood with us on consistently voting to raise the minimum wage, championing the Paycheck Fairness Act, and helping minority-owned small businesses.

"As Secretary of State, she led President Obama's efforts to restore America's international prestige. She built global coalitions against terrorism, and convened the first Global Diaspora Forum to help communities of African descent forge partnerships with the public and private sectors.

"In Hillary Clinton, African Americans will have a nominee who knows key black elected officials, clergy, fraternity and sorority leaders, educators, public intellectuals, athletes, artists, and activists. With their support, we will have a president who has dedicated her lifetime of public service to addressing the inequities that millions of African Americans still face.

"For these reasons, the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee enthusiastically and unequivocally endorses the candidacy of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States of America."

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC will send campaigners to South Carolina to support Clinton, who is no doubt hoping to improve her showing in upcoming primaries and caucuses following her defeat by Sanders in New Hampshire and her only marginal victory in Iowa.