GEORGETOWN, S.C. - The local chapter of the steelworkers union has withdraw permission for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean to use its hall for a rally next week.

National union leaders ordered Steelworkers Local 7898 to back out because the union has endorsed U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri in the nine-way race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Dean wanted to speak to the job losses of the steelworkers and others in South Carolina suffering from layoffs, a campaign spokeswoman said. "Being there with these workers who are really suffering at the hands of the Bush administration really appealed to him," Delacey Skinner said.

Georgetown Steel Co. closed its doors earlier this year and filed for protection from its creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Almost 600 workers lost their jobs.

Union local President James Sanderson said he offered the use of the hall to the Dean campaign because he thinks it's important to have politicians visit.

"If George Bush wanted to come to Georgetown, I'd make the union hall available to him," Sanderson said. "It's an honor for us to have a presidential candidate come to Georgetown."

The Dean campaign is looking for an alternate location to hold its rally, Skinner said Saturday afternoon.

Information from: The Sun News