EditoWeb USA NeWs: Obama Rally in South Carolina

Both campaigns officially filed their papers today with the South Carolina Democratic Party to get on the primary ballot. The Clinton camp had five supporters, including Artis Bufford, pastor of the Armenia Baptist Church, stand in front of Democratic headquarters and talk to reporters about Mrs. Clinton.

The Obama campaign, by contrast, held a sign-waving rally at the state Capitol building with about 50 supporters. They were backed up by a high school marching band, trumpets blaring and drums beating.

At the rally, Stacey Brayboy, the Obama campaign director here, turned their attention to the building across the street — which houses the Clinton headquarters. She urged the Obama supporters to make their presence known as they paraded by.

Zac Wright, a Clinton spokesman, said he heard the band, but that was about it. “We were all focused on winning the election,” he said later.

Incidentally, that famous Confederate flag that once flew atop the Capitol was right where the Obama camp had gathered (A Confederate soldiers monument remains on the statehouse grounds). It was an odd juxtaposition for supporters of a black candidate, but as one Obama aide noted, in South Carolina, it’s hard to avoid the Stars and Bars.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/