Experts are predicting the latter.

When the week started, South Carolina looked wide open, and most of the leading candidates were expecting to come into the state on nearly equal footing.

But Kerry's momentum out of New Hampshire and Iowa is sending his stock up nationwide, including South Carolina and the six other states voting Tuesday.

For tonight's debate, the trailing campaigns of Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and Joe Lieberman are the most likely to duke it out with Kerry. That includes playing up weaknesses Kerry may have if he runs against President Bush in the fall.

"They have no other choice," said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato. "Dean and Clark have to go after Kerry or it's over, and so does Lieberman. They can't afford to be subtle about anything at this point."

While U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al Sharpton also are expected to take part in the debate, they are in less vulnerable positions.

"You never know what they'll do or say once they get on stage, but the inertia of the campaign is leaning toward a Kerry nomination sooner than later," Sabato said. "Somebody has to do something, or it will be over very quickly."

While Kerry is expected to bear the brunt of the attacks tonight, the smartest strategy for Edwards is to stay above the fracas at any cost, Sabato said. Edwards is still competitive in South Carolina and may have a role in the party's future if his own race doesn't turn around.

"Edwards has to be thinking about being No. 2," Sabato said. "He very much is in the running for that. A lot of Democrats will be pressuring Kerry to put a Southerner on the ticket."

Running a positive campaign and minding his manners in the Iowa debates enabled Edwards to vault from the rear two weeks ago into second place. Staying positive could be a key component for him tonight. Exit polls from the New Hampshire vote indicate more than half of those who took part decided on their choice in the last week of the campaign.

College of Charleston political communications professor Jamie McKown said Edwards is likely to play for the hometown crowd (Edwards was born in Seneca) and should do fairly well. McKown said the pressure appears to be on Kerry because he hasn't been visible in the state after he launched his campaign on the aircraft carrier Yorktown in Mount Pleasant.

"It's going to be the first time a lot of time people will hear him and see what he's about," McKown said.

For the pack, much of the jitters surrounding the debates have subsided; they've faced each other more than 20 times.

WANT TO WATCH?

Tonight's nationally televised debate in Greenville begins at 7 p.m. in the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and is moderated by news anchor Tom Brokaw. The debate will air on MSNBC and local NBC affiliate WCBD-TV Channel 2.

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