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Clinton team fails to push out Minority Obama

A planned speech by presidential contender Barack Obama to South
Carolina's black legislators has survived a bid by key supporters of
Hillary Clinton to have the New York senator take his place.

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses a news
conference in Washington. Mr. Obama will speak at the South Carolina
Legislative Black Caucus' gala April 13. Obama had accepted the South
Carolina Legislative Black Caucus' invitation to speak at its April 13
gala. But state Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson - who have
endorsed Mrs. Clinton - tried to sway their caucus to their candidate.
The men relented Tuesday night, and the caucus unanimously approved
Mr. Obama's appearance.

The annual caucus fundraiser traditionally features a black speaker
and will provide a high-profile platform this year in a state that is
holding the first Southern primaries.

Black voters accounted for 49 percent of vote in the 2004 Democratic
primary here.

"Sen. Obama is very excited to attend this event and is very much
looking forward to it," said Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesman for Mr. Obama.

State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a caucus member, said Wednesday that she
was "flabbergasted" about the split on the speaker. The Orangeburg
Democrat, who hasn't aligned with any presidential candidate, said the
Illinois senator was the right choice to begin with.

"The committee's interest was in having Sen. Obama as affirmation for
young people of color that the sky's the limit," Ms. Cobb-Hunter said.

"A number of us were interested in having him come to motivate people
and get them involved in this process."

Mrs. Clinton will speak to the caucus at some other time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo