If presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is serious about winning the Democratic nomination, he needs to focus on a key constituency that he has largely ignored so far African-Americans. Sanders' support is rising among Democrats in the first two states to hold 2016 nominating contests, Iowa and New Hampshire, according to some polls, and his rallies across the country are often well-attended and enthusiastic. But his gains have come largely among white voters. He lacks a national base among African-Americans, a crucial part of the Democratic electorate beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, such as in South Carolina, which also will hold an early nominating contest. Vermont, the state Sanders represents in the Senate, has relatively few black residents, and Sanders is virtually unknown among blacks around the country. Meanwhile, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has a strong following in this demographic group. A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds that 95 percent of nonwhite Democratic voters say they can see themselves supporting Clinton for their party's nomination but only one quarter say they can see themselves voting for Sanders.

Sanders, 73, a self-identified democratic socialist who was elected as an independent, has been emphasizing macro issues such as reducing income inequality and increasing taxes on the rich and Wall Street. He has not been emphasizing issues aimed specifically at black Democrats such as alleged police abuses against African-Americans, the high incarceration rate for African-American men, lingering discrimination against blacks, and gun control. Sanders' allies say he does have a civil rights background, having led sitins for civil rights in the 1960s. These allies say he will soon make it a priority to talk about his civilrights history and discuss issues of special concern to black voters.

"We're reaching out," Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager, told the New York Times. "But it's no secret that Bernie represents a state that is heavily Caucasian, and his decades of work on issues of importance to African-Americans aren't known amid the national conversation on race that is underway. I don't think it's presumptuous of him to speak out on these issues. And his message the need for more good-paying jobs, and opening up higher education regardless of wealth and family background will have strong appeal with African-Americans and many other voters."

Until Sanders makes headway among African-Americans, he stands little chance of becoming the Democratic standard bearer, Democratic strategists say.

