Cummings to stump for Obama in South Carolina

Rep. Elijah CummingsRep. Elijah Cummings, the chief backer of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Maryland, will campaign for the Illinois Senator in South Carolina tomorrow.

Cummings, a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, is an asset to Obama in a state where at least 50 percent of the Jan. 26 Democratic primary turnout will be African American. He will make an evening appearance in Edgefield County, on the western side of the state.

Obama is expected to compete heavily with Sen. Hillary Clinton for South Carolina's black votes. Clinton has received endorsements from 16 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including one yesterday by New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne. Last month, Obama drew a crowd of 29,000 in the state when he appeared with television star Oprah Winfrey.

Both candidates have sought the coveted endorsement of House Majority Whip James Clyburn. The highest ranking African American Democrat in Washington, Clyburn has said he is likely to remain neutral.

In an unusual move, the 2008 primary is being held on a Saturday, advancing by three days after Florida moved up its election to Jan. 29. 54 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver will come up for grabs that day. The state's historically pivotal Republican primary was moved up to Jan. 19.

The rest of Cummings' schedule - and whether he will remain in South Carolina take in the results of the Iowa caucuses, which are being held tomorrow - is yet unknown.