Democratic dependence on nonwhites proven by Obama, Clinton

ATLANTA (AP) — Eight years ago, exit polls showed Hillary Clinton with comfortable margins over now-President Barack Obama among whites and Latinos during the Democratic primary season.

African-Americans sided overwhelmingly with the winner of 2008 and 2016 nominations, with black voters across the South and in heavily Democratic cities fueling key wins and delegate advantages in the drawn-out primary contests.

[...] for aspiring Democrats eyeing future White House bids, it serves notice that the presidential demand for a diverse voting coalition isn't just a general election concern for Republicans too dependent on whites; it actually begins in the Democratic primary.

South Carolina Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison, whose early voting state offers the first primary contest with a large contingent of black voters, singled out black women.

Blacks made up about 55 percent of the electorate, and Obama won about four of five of them, according to exit polls conducted for the Associated Press and television networks.

Georgia state Sen. Vincent Fort, a black Sanders supporter, argued that Clinton's advantage was "entirely to do with her brand" as a party powerbroker and lamented that Sanders "is more in line with the black community" on issues "from universal health care to free college tuition."

[...] it's important to know the diversity of America, the diversity of the issues people are facing, and then having people know who you are.