The Rev. Al Sharpton brought his presidential campaign to the Grand Strand on Wednesday when he addressed the annual meeting of the S.C. chapter of the AFL-CIO.

Sharpton is one of nine Democrats competing to face President Bush in 2004. All nine were invited to attend the convention, said chapter president Donna DeWitt, but Sharpton has been the only one to respond so far.

South Carolina holds its Democratic primary Feb. 3.

Sharpton's speech drew strong applause from conven-
tion members. But, for some, that momentary support was tempered by concern over Sharpton's viability as a winning candidate.

"He's got a lot to say," said Willie Rawl of Columbia. "But I don't give him much chance of winning."

Sharpton blasted both Bush and moderate Democrats, whom he described as "elephants in donkey jackets." Moderate Democrats, with their tendency to support scaled-down versions of Republican proposals, are making their party an imitation of the opposition, Sharpton said. That's a fatal problem, he said.

"The only reason Bush is in the White House now is we did not correct what was wrong with our party," Sharpton said.

Democrats must return to their roots, supporting working people over business owners, Sharpton said.

"We don't represent the part of America that believes workers in America are expendible and profits are the only goal," Sharpton said. "We are talking about reaching those who have been marginalized and disaffected."