US:CATHERINE COWANS is a black Barack Obama supporter who is disappointed by the rival Clinton campaign's recent attacks on her candidate.
With all the dirt that's been flung at Hillary Rodham Clinton over the years, Cowans said, "she shouldn't really attack him". But Cowans doesn't think Clinton's jabs add up to an irredeemable sin. If the New York senator becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, the 48-year-old hairdresser will vote for her. "I'm not angry at her," Cowans said during a lull at her beauty salon in this sleepy Delta city. "I still like Hillary."
Clinton's newfound pugnacity may have helped her win primary contests last week in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, but as a long-term strategy it carries an inherent risk: by aggressively attacking Obama, who is so widely embraced by the black electorate, Clinton could deplete her own deep reservoir of popularity among black voters.
As Mississippi voted in its first consequential Democratic primary in years, a number of black Obama supporters said Clinton has not yet crossed a line with her attacks. Apparently she has goodwill to spare.
John Bender, a pro-Obama voter from Indianola, has been watching in recent days as the Clinton camp questioned Obama's experience, highlighted his connections to indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, and allegedly circulated a photo of the Illinois senator in Somali tribal dress. But Bender (48) chalked that up to the Clintons - the candidate and her husband, the former president - being the Clintons: aggressive, competitive, tough. In fact, he said, he was thankful that Hillary Clinton was toughening Obama up. He figures the Republicans will be even less cordial if Obama makes it to the general election. "A weak man can't make it," he said.
Obama's return fire has included a call for Clinton to release her tax returns, but he also had a counter-attack customised for Mississippi. His campaign has dug up comments Clinton made in October in which she disparaged the state as being backward for failing to elect female lawmakers.
In the eyes of Mississippi's blacks, who make up more than half of the state's Democratic voters, it all amounts to an uncomfortable family feud between two well-liked candidates. "I tell you, that Democratic [ race] is in a dead heat," a DJ said between songs on a popular Jackson gospel station known as Hallelujah 95.5 FM. "I hope they find some peace!"
A number of voters said they strongly favoured seeing Clinton and Obama team up in November, regardless of who receives the nomination. State representative Earle Banks, an African American who supports Obama, said the Illinois senator's presence on the presidential ticket could spur dramatic increases in black turnout. And that, he said, potentially could put Mississippi in the Democratic column for the first time since 1976, when it went to Jimmy Carter.
A tour of the Delta region last week found that Clinton maintains fervent support among blacks. Tamika Hart (27), who owns a women's clothing store in Indianola, said she recently had a health scare while she was uninsured. That converted her to Clinton, who is a long-time advocate for universal healthcare. "But I just wish he wasn't running against her," she said.
In Yazoo City, Burger King worker Marlon Anderson (26) said he wasn't so impressed with the idea of electing the first black president. He and his friends in this struggling city didn't have many good jobs to choose from and, he said, the Clintons proved their worth when Bill Clinton was in the White House.
But Obama was the clear favourite, and during the lunch rush at Fannie's Cafe it was difficult to find a black Clinton voter. All of the Obama backers interviewed said they would get behind Clinton if she won the nomination. "Sure I would," said Edward Jones, a tire-shop worker who called Clinton's tactics "dirty".
"I think we've got the best Democratic candidates we've ever had this year."