Both Republicans in the 6th Congressional District realize it's a majority-black district held by a black Democrat for more than a decade.

Both say the best thing that could happen is for blacks to come home to the party they once embraced after the Civil War.

That's unlikely, and perennial candidate Gary McLeod of Manning and newcomer Michael Reino of Florence, who are both white, are grappling to pick up supporters in a district that sprawls across parts of 15 mostly rural counties in some of the state's more economically depressed areas. The winner will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, in November.

For McLeod, who has been running for the office almost every political season since 1994, the campaign is about smaller government, tax reform and activist judges.

For Reino, a political newcomer who calls himself a middle-of-the-road Republican, it's about improving education, reforming lawsuit monetary settlements and bringing jobs to rural stretches bypassed during the booming 1990s and floundering in the recovery.

"We don't need to downsize businesses. We need to downsize government," said McLeod, who wants a return to a constitutional government envisioned by the founding fathers. "What is causing businesses to go outside the country is the over-taxation and over-regulation of businesses."

On legislating from the bench on such issues as gay marriage, McLeod said the nation doesn't need a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. It needs a Congress that is willing to get rid of judges that it thinks make bad decisions, he said.

"If gays want to have a union, they can call it sodomony, but it should never be called marriage," he said. "Marriage only occurs between a man and woman."

McLeod also supports a movement to replace direct taxes such as income, property, capital gains and death taxes with indirect taxes on consumption items such as gasoline, tobacco and alcohol.

"That would give us a tax system on what people spend rather than one on what people make," he said.

He also prefers that powers be concentrated more in state and local government rather than at the federal level.

"There's no bacon in Washington because their money comes from us," he said. "I want to leave the whole hog at home."

Reino, on the other hand, is focused on jobs and education.

He supports a 50 percent state and federal tax credit for companies that hire new employees, not just for large corporations.

"Small businesses can benefit from that because there are not a lot of big businesses out there," Reino said. "It's not a major thing, but it would help businesses focusing on hiring people."

Reino also would push for the state to consolidate school districts to save money and press for a technical education center in Walterboro, which he said is 45 miles from the nearest schools in North Charleston and Orangeburg.

"Companies looking at this district in particular can't find properly trained people," he said.

Reino also favors tort reform.

"It is a national problem," he said. "When liability insurance goes up (from large cash settlements in civil court cases), it affects all insurance. We need to put limits on monetary awards."

If Reino loses the primary, he's out of the race for good. If McLeod loses, he still will be on the ballot in November as a Constitution Party candidate. If McLeod wins the primary, he will be on the November ballot twice and his votes under both parties will be combined.

Still, almost everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion that Clyburn will carry the 57 percent black district he has held since first being elected in 1992.

That's why McLeod and Reino talk about attracting black voters.

"A lot of Republicans consider this a throwaway district," Reino said. "We need to attract minorities and Democrats to the Republican Party if we want to win."

McLeod echoed his remarks.

"My message to black voters is to come back home to the GOP," he said.

GARY MCLEOD

AGE: 61

RESIDENCE: Manning

FAMILY: Divorced; son, Gary McLeod Jr.

EDUCATION: Camden Military Academy, Spartanburg Junior College; Navy service, four years

PHONE NUMBER/E-MAIL ADDRESS: (800) WIN-GARY; gary@garymcleod.org

OCCUPATION: Internet services provider

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None but has been running for office for 10 years

MICHAEL REINO

AGE: 35

RESIDENCE: Florence

FAMILY: Single

EDUCATION: BA from State University of New York College at Oswego

PHONE NUMBER/E-MAIL ADDRESS: (843) 260-1772; reino2004@msn.com

OCCUPATION: Automotive service adviser for Florence Toyota

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

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