The battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the mantle of America's Democratic presidential candidate has moved into the pews of important black churches.
Both campaigns are now focusing on the party's South Carolina primary this weekend, where African Americans are expected to make up almost half of the voting population.
At the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Senator Obama has been singing and speaking at the church where the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King once preached.
"In the struggle for opportunity and justice, we cannot walk alone," he said at the Sunday service.
"In the struggle to heal this nation and repair the world, we cannot walk alone, so I ask you to walk with me and march with me and join your voices..."
His appearance in the church is a powerful symbol ahead of the primary vote.
Across the US, African Americans are keenly watching to see if Senator Obama can become America's first black president.
It has even been the topic of discussion after the monthly Las Vegas meeting of the Doolittle Red Hat Divas - a group of retired women who get together for some fun and gossip and always wear beautiful bright red hats.
Lottie Robinson is impressed by Senator Obama.
"I think he's a very intelligent man, I think he's a nice man, I think he's a sincere man," she said.
"But I don't know how ... the experience he's had, you know? I think he has got just about enough qualifications as the rest of them really."
She says she doesn't think he will be the next president of the United States.
"Because of the way the nation is. We've never had a black president," she said.
Ms Robinson says Senator Clinton has got a better chance of becoming the president.
"There's a long time between now and November, a lot can happen," she said.
"I like Clinton, I voted for Clinton, I voted for her husband. And when he was in the White House, this country was roaring.
"He ran this country very well, although he had this woman, this Monica Lewinsky. But all of them had women."
Her friend Clara Jenkins thinks many African Americans will be torn between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton.
"I like both of them... I know who I'm going to vote for, but if either one of them win, I'll be all right, I'll work with them," she said.
Ms Jenkins says she has decided to vote for Senator Obama.
"This is the first black man that really makes sense to me. I think he could compete with any of them, Republicans or Democrats or whatever," she said.
It's difficult to gauge the influence of African American voters in this Democratic race.
In poll after poll they have said they would not cast their vote for a black presidential candidate solely because of the colour of his skin.- Source: By ABC News
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
