This year's presidential contest has a number of Southern African-American voters in a whirlwind of indecision.

Do they support a woman whose husband has often been touted as the "nation's first black president" or an actual black candidate whose viability and appeal has been a formidable force of its own?

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama are in a frantic, sometimes-heated battle for the White House, with each realizing the significance of the Democratic Party's large number of black voters.

While many African-Americans find it admirable that Obama has run what they consider a phenomenally successful campaign, they say other issues such as experience and economic policies matter regardless of race.

African-Americans voters, including legislators and a political science professor, say they will not all be speaking with the same voice during Saturday's Democratic primary.

'Nothing beats a failure but a tryer'

Bamberg resident Marvin Jenkins said he is looking for the candidate, "who has the better experience and is better for the job." He said having Obama as the nation's first black president does not mean that he is better qualified.

"Who's gonna do the most work for the people? It would be nice to have a black person there, but you know how that goes," said Jenkins, noting that race will ultimately become a factor when the general election rolls around.

He said having a black man run for the office will alone, however, motivate African-Americans to turn out at the polls.

"They want to see a black person in," he said.

North resident Harry Yon said Obama's run for the presidency is symbolic of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's dream of opportunity for blacks, which is the reason why many are excited about his chances of winning the race. Yon said Obama's cross-over appeal is unlike any he's ever seen in an African-American, but cautioned that race will ultimately affect voters' decisions in the general election.

"At first, I didn't think he had a prayer, but he seems to be connecting with white voters, which is very important. He has a good opportunity. We have to get to the point beyond race and on to the content of our hearts, but it still depends on where America is," Yon said.

"Yes, all blacks are excited, but there's still the ultimate point about whether he's able to be elected. The primary is one thing, but when you get down to the nuts and bolts of the general election, sometimes people change their minds," Yon said.

Branchville resident Junell Minus said she supports Obama but is not sure whether his candidacy will necessarily motivate other blacks to vote.

"I hope he gets it. What can you say? You can't do no worse than what you got. Maybe a change will do all right and maybe not. It all depends, but there's a possibility that something will be different now," she said.

"I always vote whether it works out or not. I think everybody ought to go to the polls this time. It makes no difference who wins, but I'm pretty sure if all the blacks will get out and vote, he might have a chance," said Minus, noting that Obama's attempt to become president is alone noteworthy.

"That's not an easy job. Nothing beats a failure but a tryer. Whatever it takes, looks like he's got plenty of it," Minus said.

Orangeburg residents Charles Mack and Charmane Kennedy say they both support Obama, but that race will unfortunately be a factor in whether his campaign succeeds.

"I'm for him. I want every black to think the same way I'm thinking, but we gotta go back to the basics for him to win: prayer. That's the only way he's gonna win. Don't listen to what people are saying about (Hillary Clinton's) 35 years of experience. What you don't have, the good Lord will give it to you. Give this man (Obama) a chance," said Mack, noting that blacks should be motivated to get out and vote.

"Obama can't make it no worse than what it is. You're looking at a lady and a black man, and one or the other has got to go. He has my vote," Mack said.

Kennedy said she hopes that other African-Americans will be motivated to vote and that Obama has already visited her church, Greater Faith Ministries, in Florence. Of race, she said, "It shouldn't matter ... but it does have a big impact on a lot of people, I'm sure."

'We can all make history'

Sen. John Matthews, state co-chairman of the Clinton campaign, said he supported the presidential bids of Shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson. He said while Obama's run will motivate some African-Americans to vote, that won't necessarily effect change.

"I do think it's somewhat of a motivating factor for a lot of people. Unfortunately, race is still a predominant factor in the electoral process. When you look at African-Americans who are now in office, the vast majority, almost 90 percent, come from single-member districts with an African-American majority," Matthews said.

"Some have ventured, though, outside of the majority. That number has been improving, and people are fascinated with the fact that if an African-American runs for president, that's a good thing," Matthews said. "The question of race, however, doesn't come up quite as much in a primary when you have a menu to pick from. The general election is when the issue of race tends to impact more and, for African-Americans, we're impacted in a negative way.

"Things may be changing, but I don't know whether it's changed that fast."

Matthews said he supports Clinton based on her ability to win, noting that only the winner will be able to tackle what he considers the pressing issues of health disparities, quality of education and access to higher education.

"It's not much to be accomplished unless you can win. So, in essence, you have to put up the best person you think can win in the final analysis. It's critical that we do not have a Republican administration come in the next election," said Matthews, noting that he said he doesn't think African-American excitement over Obama will sway voters away from Clinton.

"I think people would still support Hillary. I believe what's most important is who can win. I think Obama has run an excellent campaign. His platform is good, but the final value is who can get the election in November to bring about some change," he said.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter said that while the possibility of having the nation's first black will have a positive effect on the polls, black voters will ultimately be looking at issues that are important to them and basing their decisions on the candidates' stands on them. She said while a large number of voters in Saturday's Democratic primary will be black, that won't necessarily secure a win for Obama.

"It would be mistake on the Obama campaign's part to take that for granted. I have seen no indication that his campaign is doing that. They appear to be working very hard in all communities. A large part of Sen. Obama's appeal is his ability to transcend race, and this effort to pigeon-hole him and his campaign will not succeed in my opinion," Cobb-Hunter said. She said the African-American community's voice is just as diverse as any that of any other community.

"The African-American community is not a monolithic community. As a result of that, I see black support in all three camps: Obama, Clinton and (former N.C. Sen. John) Edwards. People keep writing off John Edwards. I think it's important to remember that Sen. Edwards does have support in the black community as well," Cobb-Hunter said.

State Rep. Bakari Sellers said while Obama's campaign has drawn excitement among blacks, it is his character -- not his race -- that matters most.

"I think that we can not lose sight of the possibility that we can all make history, but Sen. Obama is also a very capable and credible candidate with a moral compass," said Sellers, noting that his win in the Iowa caucuses and near-win in the New Hampshire primaries are proof.

"After South Carolina, I think that would leave no doubt. So much excitement is going to be in this area ... because people are looking for hope and dreaming of change; therefore, they're drawn to Sen. Obama," he said.

Sellers said there is no time for individuals to fear that a black man cannot become president.

"I think there is some fear, but ... those who believe in change will vote for Sen. Obama. Those who want the status quo will vote for Sen. Clinton," he said.

Sellers said, "I think that South Carolina is the state that's going to determine our next president. It's a very competitive election on both sides of the aisle. ... It's just ironic that the largely black base of the Democratic Party is going to be the determinant of who the candidate will be," said Sellers, noting that approximately half of the state's Democratic voters are African-American.

Dr. Willie Legette, an associate political science professor at South Carolina State University, said neither Obama nor Clinton appears to be effectively speaking to the "needs and interests of working-class people." He cautions African-Americans to not let race be the determining factor in their ultimate selection for president.

"The majority of black people will find themselves in the working class. Obama comes along and, yes, black people are excited, but generally so. What I think is needed is the black, white, green or pink candidate that takes very seriously the problems that so much affect working class people in this country and gives us good schools, access to health care and makes college more affordable."

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534.

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