Thousands vote in Upstate counties

For months, Spartanburg County Democratic Party Chairman Albert Smith heard the whispers.

How could his party -- so downtrodden that it couldn't come up with a single challenger to county Republicans in 2002 -- pull off a presidential primary?

Smith knew the answer all along: good, old-fashioned hard work.

"We just had a bunch of good people meeting two or three times a week, hitting the pavement and getting things done," Smith said. "They said they were going to do it, and they did it for the good of the party."

They even got some help from their friends. Several Republicans helped man the precincts.

"They said they needed my help. I feel like it's my duty," said Republican Bill O'Dell, who helped staff the Trinity United Methodist Church precinct.

Turnout was light early in the day, but the clear afternoon skies helped pick up the traffic. A total of 11,959 people voted in Spartanburg County.

By comparison, 5,049 ballots were cast for Democratic candidates in the 1992 primary. Voting then was held on a Saturday, and the Democrats held their primary on the same day as the Republicans.

Smith said he would have liked to have seen a higher turnout Tuesday.

"Naturally we would have liked to have had more. But I'm proud of what we've done," he said.

Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram, one of the biggest doubters, complimented his rivals on their effort Tuesday.

"I've got to give them credit, they had all the polls manned," Beltram said.

But he said the turnout just shows the strength of the county's Republican party.

"From what I'm seeing, turnout here was proportionally less than in other counties. To me, that indicates we're widening the gap between Republicans and Democrats in this county," Beltram said.

John Edwards was the big winner in Spartanburg County, taking 51 percent (6,127) of the votes.

He also rolled in Cherokee County with 54 percent (1,367) of the 2,517 votes, and in Union County with 58 percent (1,221) of the 2,192 ballots cast.

Union County Democratic Party Chairman Ellis Jenkins was pleased with the turnout in his county.

"This was a very good turnout for Union for a presidential-only primary," Jenkins said. "There is still a strong democratic presence in South Carolina, we just haven't tapped into it as well as we should have in recent years. There's an enthusiasm I haven't seen in a long time, and I think it looks good for us."

Roger Ledbetter, an Independent who voted at the Senior Center in Chesnee, said he picked Edwards because he's a native son. The North Carolina senator was born in Seneca.

"He should carry our state. I think we owe him that," Ledbetter said. "And if he wins the nomination, I'll support him against President Bush."

Tony Giles voted for Bush in 2000 but said he's looking seriously at the Democrats this time.

"I think we need a change in leadership," he said.

Giles is in business for himself and says the struggling economy has been tough on him and other small business owners.

"They keep saying the economy is getting better and we haven't seen the best of it yet. When is the best going to get here? We need help now," he said.

For Mary Jo Tone, there's no change of heart in 2004; she's known where she stands politically.

"I'm a flaming liberal and proud of it," she said.

She said she voted for Edwards, but has the feeling Kerry will win her party's nomination.

And if it comes to that, "I can certainly support (Kerry)," she said after voting at Spartanburg High School.

A steady trickle of voters took part at C.C. Woodson Recreation Center.

Like Giles, several had the economy and social issues on their minds.

"Being a widow, it gets kind of tough," said Annie Legg, who added that she believes Bush has done too little to improve education and provide programs for "young people and for older people."

Asked if she believes a Democrat has a chance of winning in November, she said, "I do. I really do."

Pat Rubel didn't say whom she voted for, but she made clear her vote wasn't for Kerry. She wanted to do her part to make the primary a more competitive race.

"Not that I think he wouldn't make a good president," she said.

But Rubel, who voted at the Zion Hill precinct, said she voted for someone else "mainly because I don't want just one person going on because of momentum."

Still, if Kerry wins the nomination, Rubel thinks she'll support him.

"I would assume so," she said. "I'm as disgruntled as anyone else about the loss of jobs, and I don't like the war."

Dennis Zellner said he's only likely to vote for a Democrat if Clark wins the nomination.

"We're typically Republicans, but if it comes down to it, I'm thinking of voting for Clark for president," he said, adding that he would not vote against Bush in favor of Kerry.

"I like his experience, and I think he's really grounded and more well-rounded (than Kerry)."

Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7223 or bob.dalton@shj.com.

Baker Maultsby can be reached at 562-7425 or baker.maultsby@shj.com.

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