CRISSA NELSON | editor-in-chief

Race, a major factor in the race.

Monday marked a historic tribute to one of the most influential black Americans and his battle for racial justice in the United States. Meanwhile, another influential black American battles for the racial vote and the justice he calls for in the United States.

On the day of celebration for the life of Martin Luther King Jr., the three leading Democratic candidates stood in unity and exchanged a few brief cordial words in Columbia, South Carolina before the Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and upcoming South Carolina primary election on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Democratic officials estimate that African-American voters could comprise more than 60 percent of the primary voters in South Carolina. With African-American candidate Barack Obama up against South Carolina native John Edwards, race will be a major factor in this election especially.

Barack Obama, who, if elected, would be the first African-American President of the United States, led a march through the few city blocks leading to the state capitol where he was joined by Hilary Clinton and Edwards to make brief remarks on the impact of MLK and his battle for civil rights even today.

“Everyday, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions, across gender and party,” Obama said. “So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others—all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face—war and poverty; injustice and inequality.”

Yet encouraging words of tribute faded quickly into bitter attacks during the debate, especially between the would be first woman and the would be first African-American president.

The South Carolina Primary will be essential as the race continues to be a close one. So far in the democratic contest, Clinton has won three primary elections, Obama won in Iowa and took second to Clinton, while Edwards has not won any state primary elections.