Clinton's daughter, Obama's wife appear at same service

COLUMBIA --- Those trying to gauge the importance of blacks in the Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina needed to visit only one revved-up church service Sunday morning.

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Associated Press

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, holds hands with Vernon Jordan, (left) and Jannie R. Jackson at Bible Way Church in Columbia.

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Associated Press

Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, also visited Bible Way Church in Columbia.

Michelle Obama and Chelsea Clinton were tucked among hundreds of congregants on opposite sides of Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, clapping in unison with the choir during a gathering that lasted more than two hours.

The sermon was delivered by the church's pastor, who's also a state senator and paid consultant for Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid. Listening on while sitting beside Mrs. Obama was church member Anton Gunn, the state political director for Barack Obama.

Blacks comprised nearly half of Democratic primary voters in the state in 2004, and they're being heavily wooed this election season. Endorsements from ministers generate campaign news releases. Mr. Obama's organization has toured barbershops and brought Oprah Winfrey to the state. Bill Clinton has visited, too, working to bolster support from blacks for his wife.

Neither Ms. Clinton nor Mrs. Obama spoke during the service, but both got applause when they were introduced from the pulpit. If the support for the mother and husband they represented could be measured by that attention, then the senator from New York seemed to have an edge among Bible Way congregants.

Afterward, both women got hugs, gave out autographs and shook hands with people waiting in long lines.

"I think it's good for them to come out and show the church support," said Jeffrey Watkins, who didn't want to say who he will vote for. He met Mrs. Obama after the service.

"I think she's a nice lady," he said.

"I'm thinking about Clinton," said church member Franklin Mims. "Bill's been such a good president, and I think that Hillary could do the same thing."

Cheryl Patton said she was looking more closely at the senator from Illinois.

"I think I'm leaning more towards Obama," she said after the service. "I just like what he stands for, and I think he's going to make a big difference."

During the service, Pastor Darrell Jackson preached about passionate commitment as exemplified by the biblical story of the aging prophet Elijah traveling to his death with his faithful young protÃgà Elisha.

He pointed out his own mentor, another notable face in the crowd: Vernon Jordan, the former president of the National Urban League and a longtime friend and adviser to former President Clinton. He was in attendance with his wife, Ann.