Black leaders split on Democratic nominees

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Top black leaders across the United States reportedly are divided regarding whether to support Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

While the main focus for most black leaders' campaign endorsement appears to be electability, the minority leaders are essentially split over which of the two candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination has earned that designation, The Washington Post said Saturday.

"She's electable. She's acceptable. What else is there?" Alabama Democratic Conference Chairman Joe Reed said of Clinton.

Clinton has also received endorsements from Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.

The former first lady also has topped Obama in the number of endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus with 15 to the Illinois politician's 12.

Obama, meanwhile, has earned the support of civil rights leader, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, as well as ADC official Jerome Gray.

"Here is a young African American who is willing to put himself out there; who is running well; who is willing to take the country in a new direction," Gray said told the Post. "Why shouldn't we embrace him?"