Led by House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, and House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Columbia, the group met on the steps of the Statehouse and vowed to pray every day until November for peace at home, the safety of U.S. troops abroad and a smooth national election.

"We can pay no higher honor to our American troops, and to our nation, than to pray for them and for the country they love so well they are willing to defend it with their lives," Wilkins said. "I believe God covets our prayers. And that's why we hope that all South Carolinians, all Americans, will join us and stand united in prayer -- no matter their politics -- one nation under God."

Wilkins was followed Tuesday by Smith, a member of the Army National Guard, who spoke of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and how they changed the country.

"As we prepare to exercise one of the greatest promises of America and vote, it is right that we turn to prayer," he said. "And as legislative leaders of South Carolina, we ask everyone to pray deeply and often for peace and protection for our homeland every day, but most especially these next four weeks."

The joint meeting hints at a thread of fear running through the offices and corridors of the United States in the aftermath of 9/11. With news of car bombs and firefights daily from Iraq, and the fear that terrorists could target the election, Nov. 2 carries with it a new set of anxieties.This fear was enough to push aside the initial doubts of some Democrats, who feared the event was a roundabout attempt to scare up votes for President Bush. Wilkins chairs the Bush campaign in South Carolina.

"Some people expressed concerns about it," said John Graham Altman III, R-Charleston. "But I think they realized, in the end, that this was exactly what it said it was, a call for prayer. And that's a good thing."

The meeting was an unusual move for state leaders, one that was unapologetically faith-driven. Wilkins said that calling on citizens to pray with him wasn't crossing the line separating church and state.

"Being an elected official does not preclude me from praying or from asking others to join me in prayer," he said. "I don't see any conflict at all."

Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen agreed, saying there is nothing wrong with such a request.

"It's a little unusual, but they didn't do it in the chamber and they didn't make some kind of law or resolution out of it," he said. "So, basically, it comes down to one guy's opinion. And everyone has a right to that."

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/100604/sta_06prayer.shtml