McCain courts Palmetto State

Democrats criticize candidate while acknowledging he will likely win here

Jeff Chiu/AP

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attends a news conference Friday in Columbia.

COLUMBIA — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain returned to the state that gave him a crucial boost toward the nomination Friday, and even the state's leading Democrats acknowledged he most likely will win here this fall.

But Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and State Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler said either Democratic hopeful Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton can be expected to have a good enough showing to boost the hopes of South Carolina Democrats running for federal or state legislative seats.

McCain, whose narrow win here Jan. 19 helped push him past former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, was joined by about 10 state leaders, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and state House Speaker Bobby Harrell.

"I have a special feeling for this state," McCain said just before his fundraiser here. Tickets cost $1,000 and up.

McCain, of Arizona, would not say if he is considering Gov. Mark Sanford as a potential running mate, although Sanford's name has been part of the national buzz. The governor's wife, Jenny, who was standing in for her husband, was poker-faced during the question and answer.

The presumptive Republican nominee touched briefly on a number of subjects from monitoring the situation with Hezbollah in Lebanon to acknowledging the strain high gas prices are putting on the public.

McCain also said he's ready to start the next leg of the campaign, and highlighted several examples about the "dramatic differences" between himself and Obama. He made no references to Clinton.

"I'm ready to talk to the American people about the challenges and issues we face," McCain said.

While Obama handily defeated Clinton in South Carolina's Jan. 26 Democratic primary, Clyburn said either's presence atop the ticket would help South Carolina Democrats in November.

"I don't think it will put South Carolina over into the blue (Democratic) column as far as the Electoral College is concerned, but it certainly would have tremendous impact on state Legislature races, state senatorial races, where we get our farm team from," Clyburn said. "We need to get young people into this party and start looking for the future and not just the here and now."

While Clyburn and Fowler said they expected South Carolina to remain in the Republican presidential column, they had harsh words for McCain.

"We think that a McCain presidency would be no more than a third (George) Bush term, and we can all see where that's gotten us," Fowler said, citing the costs of the Iraq war, gas and health care.

Clyburn agreed McCain would continue Bush's policies, adding, "Sen. McCain is saying that we can solve our fiscal problems by cutting out earmarks, like funding the Hollings Oncology Center in Charleston or deepening the Charleston Harbor so we can stop Savannah from stealing our lunch, which is what they're beginning to do."

Clyburn said the extended battle between Obama and Clinton is helping Democratic candidates in down-ballot races in those states that have yet to vote, but he said it's important that their campaigns keep a positive tone.

The Democratic contest is expected to be decided in part by superdelegates — top Democratic elected officials and party leaders. Fowler, a superdelegate, has said she will support Obama, but Clyburn has been silent to date.

Clyburn said Friday the Democrats' congressional leadership will get serious about bringing the party back together once the last primary ends June 3.

"I'm not going to be making any public pronouncements until the leadership decides it's time to do so," he said.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.