Sen. Joseph Lieberman campaigned in Charleston Wednesday, racking up the endorsement of the city's police chief, visiting a job center and calling for a "serious change in the direction" for the nation over coleslaw and boiled peanuts at Hyman's Seafood.

GRACE BEAHM/STAFF Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is applauded Wednesday after speaking to supporters who gathered for lunch at Hyman's Seafood in Charleston.

The former vice presidential candidate and presidential hopeful told a group of about 50 supporters at the Meeting Street restaurant, "I am the one Democrat who can stand toe-to-toe with George Bush where he is supposed to be strong -- on security and on values."

Wednesday's trip was one of several recent visits to South Carolina for the Connecticut senator, who hopes to use a strong showing in the state's Feb. 3 primary as a springboard toward the nomination.

Lieberman called the state party's brand of socially conservative voter "my kind of Democrats."

Early in the day, Lieberman met with Charleston Police Chief Reuben Greenberg, who announced his support of the senator. Greenberg endorsed Republican Elizabeth Dole during the 2000 presidential primary.

It was mostly Democratic faithful who came to see Lieberman at Hyman's.

The candidate fielded questions from the group about the recent allegations that the Bush administration exaggerated intelligence when making a case for war against Iraq.

Lieberman, who supported the war in Iraq, said the administration was "giving a bad name to a just cause," and that "George Tenet (CIA director) should be held responsible."

Lieberman has faced his own round of criticism this week, when he, along with presidential candidates Dick Gephardt and Dennis Kucinich, declined an invitation to speak at the NAACP convention.

The group's president Kweisi Mfume called the absent Democrats "persona non grata." Today, Lieberman said he regretted that a scheduling conflict kept him from attending but that his record on civil rights issues was strong.

"It's a momentary flap that will pass," he said.

After lunch, Lieberman asked as many questions as he answered while touring the Trident One-Stop Career Center in North Charleston. The center was a stop on "Joe's Job Tour," an effort to draw attention to his economic proposals.

In front of center employees, Lieberman called for an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, a rebate for low-income workers.

He also spoke with the center's staff and a recent high school graduate using the center to find a data entry job. However, few of the job seekers at the center's computer terminal had much to say to the candidate.

"I have so much going on," said Kristy Sattler, a mother and out-of-work computer programmer. "I can't even begin to think about politics."