In Joe Biden's campaign office in North Charleston (South Carolina), Thursday, fifteen volunteers are active. They must knock on the doors of this black district and convince the inhabitants to vote for the ex-vice president of Barack Obama. Shortly before 11 a.m., African-American star Vivica Fox (Kill Bill, Independence Day) made a surprise appearance in the assembly. "I came to bring a bit of Hollywood to the South," she smiles.
"The vote of minorities was crucial in the last election, especially that of black women who made the difference," said the 55-year-old actress. Today, she sees Joe Biden as the only Democrat capable of beating Donald Trump. “He is respected internationally, which is lacking with the current president. The function must regain its dignity, "she adds before joining the candidate in a meeting.
Some of the youngest chose Sanders
African Americans make up 60% of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina. Joe Biden believes that this demography is more representative than that of Iowa or New Hampshire where he experienced severe failures. The long-awaited victory this Saturday should therefore open other doors for him. At least that's what his supporters think. For volunteer Leslie Richardson, 56, it is "Joe Biden's experience alongside Barack Obama" that makes the difference. This ex-soldier considers that the socialist Bernie Sanders, number 2 in the local polls, "does not have the shoulders to be a leader".
This is not the opinion of all African-Americans, especially the younger ones, some of whom have chosen Sanders, a national favorite. But the party promises to be difficult for the senator from Vermont who proposes to erase the student debt or even to set up universal public health insurance. At a meeting on Wednesday in North Charleston, the crowd was overwhelmingly white. Bernie Sanders nevertheless relies on the enthusiasm of a large “multiracial and multi-age coalition” to win.
"We cannot win if we still choose a moderate"
Brandon Greene, a young local pastor, remains optimistic. “I am for Bernie because he supports those who look like me, that is to say black people. I know people who cannot afford to send their children to university. In my own family, some cannot afford health insurance. My nine-year-old sister is diabetic. The price of drugs is well known. It needs to change. For my community, it is a matter of life and death. "
Brandon Greene is convinced that the socialist is the only one who can rally the youth: “We cannot win in November if we still choose a moderate who does not push young people to vote. I have a 20 year old brother who announced to me last week that he would vote for Bernie. His promise to legalize marijuana convinced him, "he laughs before resuming, more seriously:" The Sanders campaign team has been here for a while. They listened to us and did not take our vote for granted. "
The young man even plans a surprise on Saturday. “Joe Biden has a warm place in the hearts of people here. But many have told me that they don't find it as solid as expected. My mother is 55 years old and she just told me that she was going to vote for Bernie. The candidate repeated his mantra on Wednesday: "If participation is important, we will win here too in South Carolina!" "