Even John Edwards from neighbouring North Carolina, though not a front-rank contender, is endorsed by a number of state and national black politicians.
Apart from the airport ceremonies that are attended by senior officers, the motorcade to the soldier's home town evokes strong sentiments of an appreciative nation - no-one seems to bother about how lowly the soldier's rank was - his death at the front line had raised him into the ranks of the venerated.
The Ahn effect has done wonders for Mr Park's chances: a rank outsider before the endorsement, he is now the front-runner, according to a poll conducted by the newspaper Seoul Shinmun.