Michelle Obama may visit

Michelle Obama might appear at the Charleston NAACP branch's freedom fund banquet next month, and if her visit firms up, it would underscore how Sen. Barack Obama aims to fight for South Carolina votes in a way few Democratic presidential contenders have in the past.

The NAACP hopes to land Michelle Obama as its keynote speaker but declined further comment Wednesday. It's one of the prime opportunities to talk with the politically active Democratic base in the Lowcountry.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gave the keynote address last year, which some described as a sort of consolation prize after the South Carolina Black Caucus invited Obama to give their keynote address in Columbia.

If Michelle Obama accepts, it would signal that her husband is serious about running hard in a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential contender since former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter won here in 1976.

Phil Noble, a Charleston businessman and leader of the South Carolina New Democrats, visited Obama's headquarters in Chicago last week to encourage the campaign to invest in this state, and he also has tried to urge Michelle Obama to appear at the NAACP event.

"I think South Carolina is being moved to the 'watch list,'" Noble said. "It's on the radar screen. It's not a prime target. It's not a secondary target, but it's on the screen."

The campaign already has some staff in the state busy registering voters. About 2.34 million South Carolina voters were registered and eligible to vote in the June 10 primaries, but the state now has 2.39 million — an increase of more than 50,000. The deadline to register is Oct. 4.

By July 1, about 122,000 new South Carolina voters had signed up this year, according to the State Election Commission. That's many more than during the same period in 2004 (when about 55,000 registered) or 2000 (when about 41,000 signed up).

While Obama's campaign has worked hard to register voters, commission spokesman Chris Whitmire couldn't say how much influence they had on the rising numbers. "We don't know what the political makeup is of the people who are conducting these registration drives," he said.

The Obama campaign already has hired two people and plans to hire more by next week, said Clay Middleton, who has taken a leave as office coordinator with U.S. Rep. and House Majority Whip James Clyburn to serve as Obama's state political director.

Middleton said the campaign hasn't decided to air TV ads in Charleston but its ads in Savannah, Charlotte, Asheville and Augusta will be seen by many South Carolina viewers. "For Senator Obama to have a campaign presence here shows his commitment to putting resources here to be competitive and win," Middleton said. "We are re-engaging the folks who were very involved in the primary season."

A grassroots group of local Obama supporters plans to don Obama T-shirts, hats and other stickers during a "Walk the Walk" event on the Ravenel Bridge on Sept. 4 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. It also plans to meet around noon on Saturdays at a West Ashley coffee shop.

In recent decades, South Carolina has seen virtually no presidential candidate visits or ads after its primary season, largely because it has been seen as a beet red Republican state. The Web site, Real Clear Politics, still lists it as a "solid" state for Republican hopeful John McCain, while neighboring Georgia and North Carolina are listed only as "leaning" toward McCain.

That hasn't stopped Noble from predicting that Obama will win South Carolina, and he has a barbecue dinner wager with South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson riding on the outcome.

Dawson has no fear of having to pick up the check. "I always am one to look for a free meal, and I included a banana pudding dessert in the bet," he said. "I wasn't trying to take advantage of Phil, but I get to pick the restaurant, too."

If Michelle were to appear at the banquet, that would send the clearest signal to date that the Obama camp thinks there's a chance that Dawson might have to pay.

"I don't think the campaign would be sending her to South Carolina if they thought it was a hopelessly lost cause," Noble said.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.