Spike Lee endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) over Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination just days ahead of the crucial primary in South Carolina.
The influential filmmaker, who sent cash to Clinton’s campaign for U.S. Senate in New York in 1999, made the endorsement in a radio advertisement airing in South Carolina Tuesday.
"The system is rigged," Lee tells listeners in the ad. "Ninety-nine percent of Americans were hurt by the Great Recession of 2008 and many are still recovering, and that’s why I am officially endorsing my brother Bernie Sanders. Bernie takes no money from corporations."
"When Bernie gets in the White House, he will do the right thing," Lee continues, citing Sanders’ presence at the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his protests against segregation.
"He fought for wealth and education equality throughout his whole career. No flipping, no flopping," Lee adds.
Lee’s endorsement comes at a critical moment for Sanders, who recorded a narrow loss to Clinton Nevada last week and will compete against the former secretary of state for votes in the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Clinton leads Sanders in the state by a wide margin, according to a consensus of polls, especially among black voters.
Lee, most recently famous for his work on the film Chi-Raq, appears to have strayed from his past support of Clinton. The filmmaker, under his full name of Shelton Lee, contributed $1,000 to the Hillary Rodham Clinton for U.S. Senate Committee in October 1999, according to Federal Election Commission records. The former first lady went on to win the Senate seat, representing New York from 2001 to 2009.
Sanders has had an impressive showing in the first few primary contests, nearly beating Clinton in the Iowa Democratic caucus and defeating her by 22 points in the New Hampshire primary. Sanders has focused his criticism of Clinton on her ties to Wall Street and her big-money donations.