February 2, 2008
Former President Bill Clinton will visit black churches in LA this Sunday.
(CNN) – In the run-up to Super Tuesday, former President Bill Clinton is planning a tour of African-American churches this Sunday in Los Angeles. A prominent elected official who will be joining him has described it as Clinton’s 'mea culpa tour' to the black community.
The former President set off a firestorm of criticism for comments he made during the South Carolina primary, comments which were widely interpreted as racially insensitive. He’s adamantly denied he was playing racial politics. Exit polls show President Clinton’s seemingly aggressive campaigning may have contributed to the stunning defeat his wife Hillary Clinton suffered in the primary there.
According to CNN exit polling, a majority of South Carolina voters said Bill Clinton’s campaigning was important to their vote — 48 percent of them cast ballots for Barack Obama, while 37percent went for Sen. Clinton. And CNN has reported some of the former President’s controversial remarks on the trail may have contributed to Senator Ted Kennedy’s decision to endorse Sen. Obama.
The President’s tour of African-American churches comes as the Clinton campaign fights to win a coveted prize on Super Tuesday – delegate-rich California – where African Americans make up 7 percent of Democratic primary voters.
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