The numbers Tuesday weren't pretty, and political observers say the party needs to re-evaluate itself. "They need to evolve or become irrelevant," said Scott Huffmon, assistant professor of political science at Winthrop University.

But Morton and others are determined to revive the party. They say they have enthusiasm but need strong candidates to deliver the message.

"We've got to capture the imagination of the voters," Morton said. "It can be done."

It could be tough.

In York County, the numbers were staggering: President Bush won 64 percent of the vote; Democrat Inez Tenenbaum took less than 40 percent of the vote in her bid for the U.S. Senate; and a virtually unknown GOP candidate took 45 percent of the vote against incumbent U.S. Rep. John Spratt, a Democratic powerhouse.

Democrats fielded no candidate for six of the seven County Council seats.

"It's sad," said Morton. "If you have a 'R' beside your name in York County, you've got a leg up."

Republican volunteers reached 40,000 voters by phone during the last 10 days, said Henry Eldridge, chairman of the York County GOP. The county delivered a 14,000-vote margin of victory for Republican Jim DeMint, who won the U.S. Senate seat. The goal was 8,000.

"We were downright ecstatic," Eldridge said, noting York County had the third highest vote for DeMint in the state.

Morton said Democrats had their share of volunteers, who were more motivated than they've been in years. But in the end, the election came down to security, morality and family values as defined by Republicans.

Huffmon wonders why Democrats don't put their own spin on morality.

"Why don't we define morality as feeding the hungry?" he said. "The Republicans got to define morality, and the Democrats let them do it."

The conservative message appeals to people, said Eldridge. "They really believe the Republican Party works for them."

Democrats are perceived as being the party of blacks and the liberal elite who give money away, Morton said. They knew it would be difficult for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry to win the South.

"Nobody felt he could understand us," Morton said. The only Democratic presidents elected since 1964 have come from the South, he said. "They knew how to communicate their ideas to Southern conservatives."

One problem is the Democratic Party doesn't have candidates.

"They have no farm teams," said Neal Thigpen, political science professor at Francis Marion University. "They have no bench."

Some Democrats may pin their hopes on Spratt to lead the state party. With the retirement of longtime Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, York's Spratt becomes the dean of the state's Democratic congressional delegation. He has represented the 5th District, the state's largest, for 22 years and is the ranking Democrat on the Budget and Armed Services committees.

But Spratt, 62, downplays his role as a senior statesman and said he'll focus on helping unite Congress and reducing the federal deficit.

Many agree he'll continue to play to his strength in Washington instead of helping revitalize the state party.

"Congressman Spratt is the class of the South Carolina delegation," Thigpen said. "But he's always been kind of a little bit off on the side on his own."

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat who represents the state's 6th District and is former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, also isn't likely to lead the party, some observers say.

There are good candidates who did not run, said Morton. He said former Gov. Dick Riley, who was Secretary of Education under President Clinton, could have won the U.S. Senate seat. The timing just wasn't right, he said.

The national election distracted the Democrats from finding and supporting local candidates, said Joe Erwin, state party chairman. Recruitment will be a top goal.

Party leaders know they have their work cut out for them and that it will take time. They're ready for the fight.

"We're not throwing in the towel," said Morton. "We'll be back."

Sula Pettibon • 329-4033

spettibon@heraldonline.com