Rep. John Lewis and other Congressional Black Caucus members are expected to endorse Hillary Clinton. | AP Photo Congressional Black Caucus PAC to endorse Clinton

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC will formally endorse Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

It's a coup for the Democratic presidential contender, as many of the black lawmakers can help leverage support for Clinton in African-American communities that will be critical during her primary battle against Sen. Bernie Sanders.


Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), a former CBC chair said the former Secretary of State is a better candidate for African-Americans on national security and economic security.

"It is really, really clear to people who are paying attention at this point that she probably knows more about how to move us forward," said Fudge. "As I look at her history, she has worked with people who are undeserved for her entire career...she's been talking about this for her entire life. I've only heard about it from Sanders in the last year."

The PAC will announce the endorsement at an event in Washington. Clinton will not be in attendance, a source said.

In addition to the endorsement, half-dozen black lawmakers are expected to spend time in South Carolina campaigning for Clinton ahead of the first-in-the-South Democratic primary there on Feb. 27. Fudge said some members of the delegation will spend nearly a week in the state, visiting churches and attending rallies for Clinton. Also traveling to South Carolina are Reps. G.K. Butterfield, the chairman of the black caucus, Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat who has been a long-time support of Clinton's, and John Lewis, a noted civil rights activist.

Getting early support from the Congressional Black Caucus may be critical for Clinton, who narrowly won in Iowa but was resoundingly defeated by Sanders in New Hampshire this week. Many African-American lawmakers ditched Clinton's candidacy in 2008 when then-Senator Barack Obama entered the race. It was a crippling blow to the New York senator. But with the endorsement of the CBC PAC, Clinton has solidified her support among a key voting group.

The Clinton campaign has been putting an increased focus on race ahead of the South Carolina primary — the first primary state with a sizable minority community. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said during a conference call this week that there is "no comparison" between Clinton and Sanders when it comes to criminal justice and gun control.