ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The Rev. Al Sharpton cited support from Jay-Z and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs as he claimed to be the only presidential candidate who can "mobilize young voters" for the state's first-in-the-South primary Feb. 3.

Speaking to about 125 people at historically black Claflin University, Sharpton said young voters will provide the swing vote in 2004 as he pushed voter registration.

About 15 people in the audience raised their hands when Sharpton asked who wasn't registered, and the civil rights activist told them to come to the auditorium's stage to sign up to vote.

"I don't care who you vote for," Sharpton said before catching himself. "Well, I do care. Well, you vote for who you want to."

Sharpton, one of nine candidates vying for the chance to unseat President Bush next year, is hardly the first candidate to go after the young or black voters.

Other candidates have visited colleges and Young Democrat rallies to energize a group of voters who will not only be asked to cast a vote, but also be asked to help the state party count votes or staff polling places.

And candidates have campaigned to attract black voters, who could make up half of the state primary electorate.

Sharpton dropped names other than musical artists as he emphasized his ability to connect with young voters. He said Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons, also known for his Phat Farm Clothing line, threw him a birthday party Tuesday.

"I'm the only candidate that can go and talk to young people," he said.

He didn't connect with Claflin student Jessica Fountain, 18. She said she's afraid Sharpton might take race too far at times.

"I don't think he'll make a good president," Fountain, a mass communications major from Hartsville, said. "I feel like some of his views are too one-sided because of race."

Others have questioned Sharpton's experience. But he says he has run a national organization, the National Action Network.

He also told the audience he would repeal Bush's tax cuts to fund public education, which drew applause and some "amens."

Sharpton said he's had recent success in the polls, but his numbers are far from the leaders.

"Politics is not about guessing who's going to win," Sharpton said. Even if he doesn't win, he said, support he generates gives his policies more weight.

And 22-year-old Laquesha Johnson agreed.

The sociology major from St. George said she's not sure who to vote for yet, but throwing her support behind Sharpton would hardly be a waste.

"I wouldn't be throwing away a vote because you don't know what's going to happen between now and then," she said. "A miracle might happen, you never know."