Senator Bernie Sanders talked about the “seemingly endless stream of tragedies” in black communities from clashes with the police, while Hillary Clinton sought to closely align herself to President Obama, as the two Democratic candidates worked to woo black leaders ahead of this state’s Feb. 27 primary contest.
In his address at a gala dinner hosted by the South Carolina Democratic Party on Saturday night, Mr. Sanders talked about attending the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 and tried to tie the theme of Dr. King’s speech to his economic message of ending inequality.
Mrs. Clinton, who spoke after Mr. Sanders, leaned heavily on Mr. Obama’s legacy and popularity here, vowing to continue the progress he has made on health care, gun control and overhauling the criminal justice system.
“He does not get the credit he deserves for saving the American economy,” she said, to a roar of applause.