ROCK HILL, South Carolina — Pete Buttigieg’s efforts targeting religious voters in South Carolina underscore his challenge in appealing to black voters and overcoming the hurdle posed by his sexual orientation.
Presidential candidates often make the rounds at predominantly African American churches in South Carolina, where a majority of Democratic primary voters are black. An October Post and Courier-Change Research poll found Buttigieg at 5% support among black voters in the state — an improvement from previous polls but far behind front-runner Joe Biden’s 38%.
“The history of our community has always been rooted and grounded in our faith. And for people of color, particularly African Americans, the black church has always been the nerve center,” Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright told the Washington Examiner.
