Hillary Clinton is reaching out to South Carolina’s black families through an ad on black radio that debuts Tuesday.
In the 60-second spot, the Democratic presidential candidate delivers a key message of her campaign: Raising wages “is the defining economic challenge of our time.”
A narrator in the ad says that hardworking black families in South Carolina are struggling to cover increasing living expenses and highlights Clinton’s menu of solutions.
“I’ve been fighting for families my entire life, and I’m not going to stop now,” the candidate vows.
The ad underscores her “lifetime of fighting for families.” Still, questions are swirling about whether she would deliver if elected.
Some influential voices in the Democratic Party question her willingness to fight for struggling families. At the same time, the former secretary of state is trying to dispel the perception that she’s too cozy with Wall Street.
In its defense, the campaign points to Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) support of Clinton’s plan to tame Wall Street. Warren has been on a crusade to enforce government oversight of big banks.
Also causing concern for some is that Clinton has not fully embraced the $15-an-hour minimum wage movement. She proposes a $12 federal minimum wage but supports state and local efforts for a $15 minimum. Liberals agree that workers are long overdue for a raise but are divided on how much.
Winning South Carolina is an important piece of Clinton’s path to the nomination. The upcoming South Carolina primary is also a crucial test of whether she can motivate black voters to turn out for the general election, as they did for President Barack Obama.