Top SC Democrat endorses Hillary Clinton, mending rift

Clyburn said Friday "my heart has always been with Hillary Clinton," a sharp departure from eight years ago when former President Bill Clinton called him on the phone at 2:15 a.m. after his wife lost the 2008 South Carolina primary against Barack Obama.

Clyburn has never endorsed a candidate before, saying the Democratic National Committee asked him to stay neutral since South Carolina started its primary in 2004 so the races would be competitive for all candidates.

[...] he said Hillary Clinton is better equipped to deal with foreign policy as well as education, reforming the criminal justice system and restoring the Voting Rights Act.

The two of them sat together last summer at the funeral for state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who police said was killed at the Charleston church he pastored by a man motivated by racial hatred.