Money, Not Race, A Factor in NC politics

For some reason, the AP has been running this as two seperate stories. I can't quite figure out why, probably because the Obama story came first, but this is really one news story:

Race doesn't give Obama edge in S.C.
JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Barack Obama may find that for black voters in South Carolina, being black isn't everything. If there is a single state where being black holds the potential to boost Obama's chances to win the Democratic presidential nomination, South Carolina fits the bill.

Yet, Democratic voters and party officials here said the Illinois senator will have to do as much persuading as any other candidate to win the support of blacks, who make up about half the Palmetto State's Democratic voters

Obama is gonna have to work for that black vote... or maybe he should take one out of Clinton's book and just buy off the black politicans:

Clinton offers contract to S.C. endorser
SUSANNE M. SCHAFER, Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A key black Democratic leader in South Carolina has negotiated a $10,000 per month consulting contract with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign, a development that came to light when the lawmaker endorsed the presidential hopeful.

The contract with state Sen. Darrell Jackson's firm, Sunrise Enterprises, is not yet signed but will run through the first Southern primary here next January, Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee confirmed Thursday.

Elleithee denied there was any deal made for Jackson's endorsement.

Riiiiiight. That $10,000 per month "consulting fee" was just a bonus, not quid pro quo.