The civil rights group says only two of the 10 Democratic White House hopefuls have accepted invitations to attend a round-table discussion in Charlotte about minority issues Oct 10.

Carol Moseley Braun and the Rev. Al Sharpton committed to the event. The night before, all the candidates will be on the opposite end of the country at a Democratic presidential debate in Phoenix.

"They realize black people want to see, touch and feel their candidate and know that the candidate knows something about them," state chapter President James Gallman said. "I think maybe the others need to understand that a little bit more."

But Gallman said he was disappointed the candidates could not adjust their schedules to talk with civic leaders in a state where blacks could make up the majority of voters in the state's first-in-the-South primary.

"An empty seat at the table should give a clear message to our constituents -- and South Carolina voters in general -- of a campaign's lack of interest in their concerns," Gallman said.

Joe Lieberman, Dick Gephardt and Dennis Kucinich drew ire from national NAACP officials when they skipped a presidential forum this summer in Florida, prompting an apology later from all three candidates.

"If they chose not to come or think they can send a surrogate, it says that they don't think they really need to put in the kind of time to the largest civil rights organization in South Carolina," Gallman said.

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who tops the latest poll in South Carolina, plans to attend part of the three-day convention.

An appearance at the NAACP's conventions also can make a statement, said Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon.

"There are so many touchy subjects that arise if these candidates decide to attend the NAACP conference," Huffmon said.

The Confederate flag flying at South Carolina's Capitol continues to be one issue. The state NAACP is holding its convention in Charlotte to honor its economic boycott of the state tied to efforts to remove a flag that continues to have support among many white Democrats and independents.

"African-American support is absolutely crucial, but they cannot alienate the moderate white support either," Huffmon said.

Gallman said he doesn't think the flag controversy would keep candidates away.

"Whether it was in South Carolina or whether it was in North Carolina, if they really want to get their message out, then I would think they would be there," he said.

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