GREENVILLE — Two days after his positive message propelled him to an unexpected second-place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, U.S. Sen. John Edwards made a quick visit to South Carolina to stake out his territory in the state of his birth.

He was met Wednesday morning by a cheering, sign-waving crowd of about 130 supporters — plus a media horde — at a downtown Greenville sandwich shop. They squeezed together in the antique-lined store and spilled out onto the sidewalk.

Looking tired with dark creases under his eyes, Edwards still showed new confidence and energy as he drew distinctions between himself and the six other Democratic candidates competing in South Carolina’s Feb. 3 presidential primary.

“I was born here. I still have lots of family here,” Edwards said to cheers. “When I leave here, I won’t forget South Carolina.”

Although he didn’t mention retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark by name, Edwards’ words were similar to critical comments he made in the Washington Post about Clark after Iowa. Edwards told the Post he understands S.C. issues better than Clark.

Clark, who has used his Southern roots to rocket to second place — passing Edwards — in S.C. polls, likely is Edwards’ biggest threat Feb. 3.

Though he was born in Seneca, in the Upstate textile country, Edwards didn’t mention being the son of a mill worker, a ubiquitous feature of his previous stump speeches. He did talk about foreign policy, a topic his opponents have said he is weak on. Edwards, a lawyer, hasn’t finished his first term in the Senate.

Edwards voted for the war to remove Saddam Hussein from Iraq but feels the United States must bring in more allies to help restore peace.

He said loopholes in a nonproliferation treaty need to be closed to prevent countries from spreading nuclear weapons. And he promised to comb through Iraq rebuilding contracts to expose companies overcharging the United States.

Since he announced his candidacy, Edwards of North Carolina has said he is counting on winning South Carolina on Feb. 3.

But before South Carolina, he needs to do reasonably well in the New Hampshire primary Jan. 27, analysts have said.

Media reports say he has a much smaller paid staff there than other major candidates do. The latest Zogby poll has him in fourth in New Hampshire, nine points below third-place Clark.

Still, staffers say Iowa gave them new reason for enthusiasm.

It also is getting them new attention. For the first time, Edwards’ campaign had to charter a jet from New Hampshire to South Carolina and back just for his national media entourage.

He picked up the support of Ike Williams, a top aide to U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt’s former S.C. campaign director. Gephardt dropped out of the presidential race Tuesday.

And people who came to see Edwards on Wednesday said they increasingly like that he won’t criticize his opponents.

“He’s an exciting public speaker. He instills trust, and I think that’s especially important right now,” said Elizabeth Morrow, a senior at Greenville’s Christ Church Episcopal School.

A member of the Young Democrats, Morrow, 18, will vote for the first time Feb. 3 and is leaning toward Edwards. “If he sticks with his positive campaign, he pretty much has my vote.”

Reach Talhelm at (803) 771-8339 or jtalhelm@thestate.com.