COLUMBIA - S.C. Democrats are trying to learn from Republicans how not to polarize the party just before a presidential primary.

After negotiating with the national leadership to get the first-in-the-South primary on Feb. 3, most top elected state Democrats are withholding endorsements in the crowded nine-person field of White House hopefuls to try to maintain some party unity.

"We want all the candidates to be in the state as often as they possibly can because we want all of their volunteers when the campaign is over to remain as Democrats," said U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. "That's why I've been staying out of the presidential stuff because I think we need to use this time to try to heal our party."

Democrats here have more at stake than just pulling off a successful primary. They are trying to regain ground lost to Republicans in statewide and State House races. Now is not the time to divide the party, Clyburn said.

A major rift in the Republican Party emerged during the 2000 presidential race when South Carolina's establishment supported then-Texas Gov. George Bush leading up to the state's primary, while then-Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., endorsed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"That caused a lot of divisions in the Republican Party that are just now healing again," said Scott Huffmon, a political scientist at Winthrop University.

But U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., says he has endorsed U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri.

"I think we have a strong field," Spratt said. "My decision was made mainly on the basis that I've worked with Gephardt 20 years in the House. "

Spratt said he sees Clyburn's point, but thinks Democrats can generate enough interest in the primary to boost the party's future.

State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, one of only two statewide Democrats to hold her seat in the last election agreed with Clyburn that early endorsements can be divisive.

State Treasurer Grady Patterson says he's waiting to learn more about the White House hopefuls before he lends his support. And U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, who recently announced he would retire, said he is not ready to endorse.

State leaders had to fight to get their contest lined up behind the traditional Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary in the presidential selection process. The national party rebuffed them until losing the 2000 presidential race, which was attributed partly to writing off Republican-leaning states in the South.

Now local Democrats have to be careful, Winthrop's Huffmon said.

"Anything that creates divisiveness within the Democratic Party ... is doubly detrimental to the South Carolina Democrats at this junction," he Huffmon said.