♪ ♪
(heart beating)
KLEPPER: South Carolina is the first place
black Democratic voters
will really be heard in this primary.
So I hitched a ride to the historic city of Charleston.
Here I noticed something.
No, it wasn't the antebellum cosplay,
It was the ads that candidates were running.
They all seemed to feature a familiar face.
OBAMA: This is an extraordinary man
with an extraordinary career.
Elizabeth understands what I strongly believe.
Mr. Michael Bloomberg is here.
So it seems like a lot of white folks think
standing next to a cool black person gives them legitimacy.
But is it effective?
Let's ask my good friend Roy Wood Jr.
I know why you brought me here.
We're in your hometown, South Carolina.
I'm from Alabama.
We'll fact-check that.
So Roy and I happily went to Charleston
to see if voters noticed the Democrats' brilliant strategy.
Have you seen the ads?
Yeah, I've seen the ads.
It looks like Obama's running again.
All of them have these commercials now
with-with, uh, them and Obama saying stuff about 'em.
It's just the candidate with, like, African Americans.
Your stance cannot be what Obama did eight years ago.
We-we want someone that's gonna be, I-I feel,
-in that sense, authentic. -Every day, when you wake up,
-you want a candidate, above all things, -Exactly. Right.
-who cares about you. -You. Yes. And if you...
And has, like, a good picture with Barack Obama.
-Right. But-- No. -No.
He think that black people like the white people
that got a picture with Obama.
-I never said that. (stammers) -That's what you said.
-The term I used is "African American." -Listen,
you can't ride on Obama's coattail.
We not-- That's not how we vote.
Which candidate has the best OPV?
Break that down.
Obama... proximity... value.
The closer you are to Obama, the more black people like you.
That's a funny question,
because I personally never even considered that.
Who's got the best OPV?
Black people don't care about white people in ads with Obama.
I don't know, 'cause everybody running an ad with Obama in it
-right now. I'm just saying. -That's what I'm saying.
On behalf of black people,
this is what black people want to see.
They want to see how close...
How do you know what black people...
I spend a lot of time around black people.
-WOOD: You hang with me. -Well, he's at a table
with three black people right now. You got to give
-a brother credit. -Thank you very much.
But even Roy recognizes the power of proximity.
This is a picture of me with Barack Obama.
If you look closely,
that's Obama,
and that's me all the way over there.
-Is that technically even the same room? -Yes!
-It's the same-- That's-that's Trevor. -Wow.
And there's a bunch of white people and then there's me.
Are these, like, interns? These are Daily Show interns
-in between you and Obama. -Those are producers
and writers. Those are respected people on the show.
That's an-- that's an intern.
He-he worked on The Daily Show for a month, max.
It just looks like you was just thrown in as a prop.
It does look like that. She is 100% right.
-You look like a prop. No. -I'm not a prop. I'm an employee.
-I understand that. But... -This is everybody that works
-at The Dai... -Well, I'm just saying how you look.
You look like they, you know, tokenizing you in that picture.
All right. South Carolina voters are not easily duped
by the slick political advertising strategy
of "my one black friend."
But who was breaking through?
WOMAN: I do
particularly like Biden.
We need health care,
and Elizabeth is gonna get that done.
Well, for me, um, definitely Tom Steyer.
I'm talking about equality. We talk...
Wait. What you said? What you said his name was?
Tom?
-What's his name? -Steyer.
-Tom Steyer? -Yeah.
Tom Steyer has a message
that resonates and connects, uh, with people.
Do I follow my heart and vote
for somebody like... even Tom Steyer?
-I like... I like Tom Steyer. -I mean, Tom Steyer.
Who is Tom Steyer?!
-I-I... -Tom Steyer is saying some good shit!
Who the (bleep) is he?! I've-I've never heard of him!
I don't know. The words you're saying makes no sense to me.
KLEPPER: Turns out this mythical beast spent more money
on ads in South Carolina than anyone else.
And Steyer's commercial
doesn't even have Obama endorsing Steyer.
It has Obama endorsing a woman.
I heard this voice behind me.
Her name is Edith Childs.
KLEPPER: Who then endorses Steyer.
CHILDS: Tom's fired up, and
Trump got to go.
I'm Tom Steyer,
and I approve this message.
KLEPPER: To find out more about Steyer,
we went to South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn
who recently endorsed the candidate
with the highest O.P.V.-- Joe Biden.
Well, you know, Steyer came in.
He's-he's made it dicey.
He's made it dicey. In what way?
Well, he's spending millions.
Mm-hmm.
Money will make things dicey.
He's running second or third in South Carolina now.
It's what...
-John Steyer is running third? -It's Tom.
-Tom. -Tom?
-Tom Steyer. -Tom Steyer?
-Yeah. -I think. It's Tom, right?
Tom.
KLEPPER: So Roy and I decided
it was time to go see the candidates,
like Biden and Warren and...
Tom... Steyer? Tom?
-Tom. -Thank you. -That's his name? All right.
Appreciate that. You get the check.
KLEPPER: It was inspiring to see candidates
engaged with the voters of South Carolina.
And finally, in a little church outside of Charleston,
we got to see the Tom Steyer, and while
Steyer is just a blip nationally,
he does have some intriguing ideas.
I think I'm the only person
running for president who's for reparations for slavery.
(murmuring, applause)
And why is that true?
'Cause I want to tell the truth.
-Tom Steyer! -(laughing) -Tom Steyer.
-You're Tom Steyer. -Tom Steyer. -You guys are so excited.
-You're Tom Steyer. -That's Tom Steyer.
-What's up, you guys? -Tom...
We know this election could go a lot of different ways,
and in case it doesn't go the way you want it to go...
-(laughs) -...can I get an advance on my reparations?
(Steyer laughs loudly)
I'm not... I'm not laughing.
-Let me put it to you this way. -I'm for real.
KLEPPER: These Democratic candidates are fired up,
ready to go.
We are sure that was Tom Steyer?
Wait. That wasn't Tom Steyer?
KLEPPER: I'm pretty sure. 70%.
(cheers and applause)