FLORENCE -- Standing in front of a boxing ring at the Weed and Seed Center on Oakland Avenue on Thursday, presidential candidate Bob Graham told the Democrats gathered that jobs were the focus of his campaign.

"The key to a prosperous, safe and peaceful community is good jobs," said Graham.

Graham, a Florida senator, was stumping for votes in South Carolina's Feb. 3 Democratic primary, and choosing an area with high unemployment to campaign fit his campaign well. Florence County has an unemployment rate of 8 percent, which is the lowest in the Pee Dee area.

"It's almost unbelievable what's happened in the last few years, since George W. Bush has been president," Graham said. "During the Clinton administration, jobs were created, and we've lost three million jobs since Bush has been in office."

Graham hammered away at his message, attacking Bush's administration with nearly every question asked by the crowd of about 60 people.

"I think what we need to do is get off the track we've been on," he said. "President Bush's tax plan won't create jobs."

Graham if elected he will create a "Build America" plan to create jobs. He cited last week's blackout in the Northeast up as an example.

"I think we need to make investments in rebuilding America," Graham said. "We're going to be spending $1 billion a week in Iraq, and that's just to keep troops there. If we can do that, I think we can spend $1 billion a week to rebuild America."

Hard hit by the loss of textile and other manufacturing jobs, the Pee Dee's unemployment rate was brought up in nearly every statement Graham made, and he blamed the Bush presidency for the job losses.

"We need to see that our laws are enforced," he said of free trade agreements, which have led to manufacturing job losses. "This administration has been reluctant to enforce our trade agreements."

Asked by Florence City Council member Billy D. Williams what he would do about federal mandates that are not backed up by funding, Graham was quick to jump on Bush's homeland security policies.

"When Florence is forced to do things, like adding police, or add programs, and then isn't given the funding to do it, Florence will have to close parks, and other services," Graham answered.

Graham also spoke at Brown's Barbecue in Kingstree on Thursday afternoon.