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Who to choose?
12/12/2007 13:40 - (SA)
Columbia - Like many people in South Carolina, prison pastor Stan Kennedy is following the 2008 US presidential race closely but has not settled on a
candidate ahead of the state's crucial early primary contests.
But Kennedy, a Republican, is leaning toward former
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Tennessee Senator Fred
Thompson.
"Their convictions and world views align with mine," the
Baptist minister, 48, said at Lizard's Thicket restaurant in
Columbia, a popular stop for candidates campaigning in the
state.
Describing himself as conservative on social issues such as
abortion, Kennedy is among the so-called values voters who will
be influential in the state's Republican primary on January 19.
The state holds its Democratic primary on January 26, on the
heels of the Iowa and New Hampshire votes and ahead of some of
the very large states like Florida, New York and California.
Bellwether for the South
Its status as the first southern state to vote has made it
a destination for the presidential candidates, who are
squeezing in stops there when they are not shuttling between
Iowa and New Hampshire.
"How you do in South Carolina is really a bellwether for
how you might do all across the South," said David Woodard, a
political science professor at Clemson University.
The state was pivotal both for President George W Bush and
his father, President George HW Bush. The current president
trounced Senator John McCain there in 2000, sealing Bush's fate as
the Republican nominee.
Bush's father had a decisive win there in 1988, helping to
earn the state its reputation as a kingmaker.
Part of the Bible Belt, South Carolina has a high number of
evangelical Christian conservatives as well as many military
veterans.
Important testing ground
A majority of its voters are Republican but Democrats
consider it an important testing ground that can prove a
candidate's ability to compete in the South. Blacks, who make
up half of the Democratic primary voters, can be pivotal.
On Sunday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama,
running to become the country's first black president, held his
biggest event of the campaign, teaming up with talk show host
Oprah Winfrey for a rally that drew 29 000 people at a football
stadium in Columbia.
Also campaigning in the state last weekend was Huckabee,
who has been surging in national polls and has overtaken former
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in recent Iowa surveys.
Kennedy, the prison pastor, said he has all but ruled out
former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani because of his stance on
social issues like abortion and the fact that he is
twice-divorced.
But the perception that Giuliani is tough on national
security issues drew praise from Randy Pardee, 56, owner of a
heating and air-conditioning company in Columbia. Pardee said
he was not very concerned about the mayor's personal life.
"All of the candidates have got some skeletons in their
closets," he said.
How to break Clinton's 'freight train'
Sitting a few tables over in the restaurant with plates of
grits and fried fish in front of them, school administrator
Chuck Brown, 54, and his friends debated whether to support
Obama or US Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
Brown favoured Clinton, saying her past role as first lady
had put her "in the loop" and given her valuable experience.
But Cartrell Blume, 38, said he would vote for Obama,
saying the Illinois senator would bring a fresh perspective.
"We definitely need a change," Blume said.
Clinton, who has a strong lead in national polls, has seen
her edge over Obama narrow and the race in South Carolina
appears close.
A victory by Obama or former North Carolina Senator John
Edwards in South Carolina and another early-voting state "is
about the only thing that the could brake Clinton's freight
train," said Christopher Gelpi, a political scientist at Duke
University.
- Reuters
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