Heidi M. Przybyla

USA TODAY

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsed Hillary Clinton for president ahead of the South Carolina primary later this month, saying she’s the most consistent ally of the black community.

Both Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have been rolling out endorsements from influential black politicians and movie stars -- Sanders announced Thursday that entertainer Harry Belafonte is backing him.

Yet earning of the caucus's seal of approval will be a huge help to Clinton as many of its members will take their message on the road ahead of the Feb. 27 South Carolina primary and other southern states that follow in March with large black populations.

Announcing their support Thursday, several speakers cited Clinton’s record on health care, education and, in particular, drew distinctions between Clinton and Sanders on guns. Others said Sanders is making promises for free college and health care, that he can’t deliver. “You judge a person by their results” in serving communities of color, said CBC Chairman Gregory Meeks, of New York. Others are “not even close, it’s not even close to Hillary Clinton,” said Meeks. He said Clinton has "an agenda that can become reality."

“We need her leadership, her vision, her dedication than ever before,” said Rep. John Lewis, the iconic civil rights leader from Georgia who backed President Obama in 2008. “We must get out our vote like we never, ever voted before.”

Clinton is facing a fierce challenge for the nomination from Sanders, who trounced her in New Hampshire and narrowly lost to her in Iowa. Now the Clinton campaign is trying to show that the fundamentals of the campaign will change as it moves into states with far more diverse populations.

One caucus member made clear that the PAC's endorsement does not represent all members of the broader group.Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota took to Twitter to say that he had not been consulted before the endorsement.