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Article published Jul 30, 2004
S.C. delegates feeling a little slighted

CORY REISS
NYT Regional Newspapers

BOSTON -- The noise had thundered through the folding wall all week: 400-plus cheering Floridians in the next section of the divided ballroom itching to avenge the recount debacle of 2000.On their side of the wall, the South Carolina delegation and guests -- about a quarter of Florida's size -- sometimes felt like they were missing something at the daily breakfast meetings during the Democratic National Convention.And sometimes they were.On Wednesday, Michael Moore, the filmmaker responsible for "Fahrenheit 9/11" and a Republican antagonist, made a surprise visit to the Florida delegation.Moore showed up to say he planned to bring his cameras to Florida to monitor the November election. And on Thursday, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe paid a visit to Florida's side of the wall.On Thursday morning, Rep. James Clyburn of Columbia invited a few members of the Florida delegation -- U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Kendrick Meek and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham -- to come over for a visit."I asked them to come share with us what has been going on next door -- so we know what all the fun is about," Clyburn said.Brown told the delegation that Florida could be headed for more election problems, so other states might need to win the race for the Democrats this time."You've got to vote big in your state," Brown said."We don't need a close election."Graham, however, said Florida would do better this time."There is a tremendous feeling of responsibility that we screwed up," he said.Florida, again, is a key battleground state while only the most wildly optimistic Democrats entertain the notion that South Carolina would vote for Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.Florida's convention seats are in the center of the floor. South Carolina's are on the first tier to one side.South Carolina's delegates, who are full of pride that Edwards is a native son, also have been playing second fiddle to the North Carolina delegation, which can claim him as their senator.Media attention on the northern neighbor has been far more intense.The North Carolinians have seats in the front of the FleetCenter.But Edwards repeatedly talks about being born in South Carolina. His political fortunes were made there when he won the state's primary."I sort of feel like we didn't get enough credit for him being from South Carolina," said Nicholas Kekas, a delegate from Spartanburg, at the beginning of the breakfast Thursday morning.As if to respond, Elizabeth Edwards, the running mate's wife, arrived to give the delegation a pep talk, some hugs and to pose for photos the morning after her husband electrified the convention with his acceptance speech."Part of the reason that John is on the ticket is because of what you did," she told the grinning crowd.Elizabeth Edwards also spoke to the neighboring Florida delegation, talking up her connections to that state as well. She was born there.Meanwhile, John Edwards made a personal and well-attended visit to the North Carolina's delegation breakfast meeting.