Biden in Mississippi, Sanders in Michigan before primaries

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden worshiped at a predominantly African American church Sunday in Mississippi, two days before the state’s primary where black voters will play a pivotal role. Rival Bernie Sanders was campaigning in Michigan, the biggest prize among the six states voting Tuesday.

Biden was welcomed by applause at New Hope Baptist Church, where he was accompanied by the NAACP national president, Derrick Johnson, and by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, both of whom are from Mississippi. They sat in the front row, and Biden sang along with the congregation: “Oh, victory in Jesus, my savior forever.”

Thompson endorsed the former vice president on Thursday and introduced him to the congregation. “We know what it means to be picked out, to be picked on,” Thompson said. “We know Joe. I’m going to give him another name.”

He called Biden “the comeback kid.”

Biden had struggled in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada but won decisively in South Carolina on Feb. 29, boosted by African American voters. He also had a strong showing on Super Tuesday in states with large numbers of black voters.

“If I am the comeback kid, which I ain’t there yet, but if I’m the comeback kid, there’s only one reason I’ve come back — the African American community all around the country,” Biden said to applause by the congregation.

Biden mentioned former President Barack Obama several times. He said the United States is at “an inflection point” because of poor treatment in the past three years of people who are marginalized, isolated and oppressed.

Biden talked about the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. “I underestimated that hate’s never defeated. It only hides,” Biden said.

Both Biden and Sanders picked up some high-profile endorsements Sunday.

California Sen. Kamala Harris said she would “do everything in my power’’ to help elect Biden. She is the latest dropout from the Democratic race for president to

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Courtnay Smith, the recipient of the Habitat house, spoke to the crowd that gathered to help begin work on the new home. (Photo by Ryan Phillips, SDN)

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, left, gestures while seated next to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-miss., prior to speaking at New Hope Baptist Church, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Jackson, Miss. Seated right, is Thompson’s daughter, B.J. Thompson. (AP Photo/rogelio V. Solis)