(Columbia-AP) Jan. 30, 2004 - Voters in Columbia on Friday had a chance to get personal with the Democratic presidential candidates. Working families took part in the Dialogue with American forum, co-sponsored by WIS, the Tom Joyner Morning Show and the Center for Communit Change.
Six of the seven contenders took part in the forum, held in the Township Auditorium the day after Thursday's Democratic Presidential Debate in Greenville. Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman declined.
Watch and listen to the candidates in streaming video from WIStv.com:
The contenders promised to reverse President Bush's policies if elected. North Carolina Senator John Edwards took a jab at his rivals, insisting he's the only candidate who really talks about poverty. Edwards was questioned about how he, as a wealthy trial lawyer, could relate to the poor. Edwards says he's the son of a mill worker, saying he grew up as South Carolinians did.
Howard Dean suggested that his experience as Vermont's governor trumps some of his rivals' service in Congress.
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry reflected on his service in the Vietnam War, saying many of those he served with came from poor neighborhoods across the country.
Several of the questions were about immigration policy. Kerry, "I think we need a guest workers program, but not George Bush's program." Clark, "What we need to do is give them a way to earn their citizenship and I will do that." Dean, "You may have come on a slave ship, on the Mayflower, on Ellis Island, but you are all in the same boat now."
One candidate who wanted to put himself on a different boat was Al Sharpton, "I'm the only one who has been a civil rights activist in this race. The rest of these people talked about what should be done. I did something about it."
Edwards also talked about race and class, "The question is, how are the working people doing? We need a president that will stand up for you, that's what we need."
Kucinich also addressed race and immigration, "We must close the gaps and when we close the gaps, we close the gaps of race as well."
Dean, trying to salvage his campaign after losing to Kerry in Iowa and New Hampshire, questioned his rival's Senate record, "If Senator Kerry had accomplished anything in health care, he ought to be able to explain to the people of South Carolina how come there are so many uninsured kids here and there aren't any in my state."
WIS News 10 sponsored the forum. News 10 anchor David Stanton moderated along with nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner. The Center for Community Change was a co-sponsor of the event. The center is a non-profit, non-partisan group that does not support or oppose any candidate for public office.
Real families were selected by the center and paired at random with candidates. The statements of the families do not reflect the position of the Center for Community Change or WIS.
Before the forum about 4000 people marched from the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Columbia to the Township. Cassandra Barham-Denton explained why, "We're here to tell them that poor people vote."
Holly Burns said, "We're here to hopefully make a big difference and let people know there is hope for change and change is possible through people's rights."
Craig Jenkins attended the forum and has it narrowed down his choice. He says he'll make his final decision based on the candidate's plan for job creation, "A lot of people are really being disenfranchised. A lot of people are out of jobs. We want to find out what kind of economic development is coming down the pipe. What sort of plan is being set forth."
Ethan Gallagher, 26, wanted to hear what the candidates have to say about health insurance, "I'm a social worker for HIV and AIDS patients. They obviously don't have health care which is a basic necessity in their lives."
For Karen Ferguson, it's all about education, "Education, equal economic justice, education in terms of equal education for everyone."
Polls are open for South Carolina's primary Tuesday from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Updated 5:12pm by Chris Rees
