Bernie Sanders meets with Al Sharpton in Harlem

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders met with the Rev. Al Sharpton over breakfast in New York Wednesday morning.

The meeting took place at the famed Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem. The senator arrived in Harlem shortly before 10 a.m. and the meeting lasted about 30 minutes. The two discussed several hot button issues.

During their meeting, they discussed issues that affect the African-American community around the country.

Sharpton says they talked at about affirmative action, police brutality and the water disaster in Flint, Michigan.

The message Sanders was sending hours after his convincing win in New Hampshire, coming to an iconic black restaurant in an iconic black neighborhood, could not have been clearer: He was putting Hillary Clinton on notice that he intends to fight for the minority vote.

"I think it is very important that he sent a signal that on the morning after a historic victory, the widest margin we have seen in the history of New Hampshire, that he would come to Harlem and have breakfast with me," said Sharpton.

Sanders is doing well with women voters and young voters, but faces a steep challenge in winning over minorities, where Clinton still has a strong advantage. This is especially critical heading into the next primary in South Carolina which has far more minority voters than Iowa or New Hampshire, and where Clinton currently has a strong lead.

The population of Sanders' home state of Vermont is 95 percent white, so making inroads with minority voters is considered critical.

The Vermont senator swept to victory in Tuesday's New Hampshire primaries, gathering a majority of votes from men, independents and voters under 45, as well as a slim majority of women.

Tuesday night's win for Sanders completes his rise from presidential long shot to legitimate challenger for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton.

Clinton, also in New York Wednesday, responded to her New Hampshire thumping amid talk of a campaign shake-up. "We're going to take stock, but it's going to be the campaign that I've got," Clinton told MSNBC ahead of the vote.

Sharpton has not endorsed a candidate, but he said he will after a meeting with Clinton next week.

"My concern is that in January of next year, for the first time in American history a black family will be moving out of the White House. I do not want black concerns to be moved out with them," said Sharpton.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.