BASH: You have your finger on the pulse of that very important state where you are right now, South Carolina, in a key way.
And I want to ask you about 2020. A new poll out of Iowa places South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg firmly within the top four contenders. That’s not the case where you are in South Carolina, where he remains in low single digits.
A local South Carolina paper obtained a memo from inside the campaign, the Buttigieg campaign, detailing a focus group with black voters, some of whom didn’t like that he was living with his husband.
And the report concluded that — quote — “Being gay was a barrier for these voters.” Is Mayor Buttigieg — Buttigieg’s struggle with black voters in your state of South Carolina because he’s gay?
CLYBURN: Well, that’s a generational issue. I know of a lot of people my age who feel that way.
But I will say this, Dana. My own grandson, who is 20 — I think is 25 years old. That guy is a big Buttigieg guy. And, of course, he does it because he believes in the guy, not because he’s gay.
My grandson tells me...
BASH: But for older African-Americans, it is an issue?
CLYBURN: I’m sorry?
BASH: Are you saying, for older African-Americans, it is an issue?
CLYBURN: Yes, it is. There’s no question about that.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you otherwise, because I think everybody knows that’s an issue.
But I’m saying it’s an issue not the way it used to be. My own grandson is very much for him. He is a paid staffer working on the campaign...
BASH: All right.
CLYBURN: ... working on the campus of HBCUs throughout South Carolina.
And, so, he doesn’t care what anybody my age thinks.
BASH: Thank you, Mr. Clyburn. Thank you so much for the — for your time this morning. Appreciate it.
CLYBURN: Thank you.