Hillary Clinton picked up a key endorsement Friday from South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black representative in Congress.
“I learned a long time ago that Hillary Clinton is a fighter and that’s what we need in our next president,” Clyburn told a crowd at Allen University in Columbia, S.C. “I want to do everything I can to help Hillary Clinton crack the ultimate glass ceiling.”
The key endorsement comes just a little more than a week before South Carolina voters head to the polls for the Democratic primary, and could sway black voters, a crucial demographic for both Clinton and Bernie Sanders. After Clinton barely won Iowa and Sanders won a landslide in a mostly white New Hampshire, both candidates are aiming to prove they can win minority votes in Nevada and South Carolina.
Rep. Clyburn said that in his 24 years in Congress, he’s worked with both Clinton and Sanders, and have had “pleasant and enjoyable” experiences working with both. But his mind is made up.
“I believe that the future of the Democratic Party and the United States of America will be best served with the experiences and know-how of Hillary Clinton.”
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com