(Columbia-AP) Jan. 28, 2004 - John Kerry has gained momentum with early victories in New Hampshire and Iowa . Those wins may give him a much-needed boost to compete with South Carolina native John Edwards in the state's first-in-the-South primary next week.
With 97 percent of the precincts reporting, Kerry took 39 percent to Howard Dean's 26 percent. Edwards and Wesley Clark both trailed with 12 percent each. They were followed by Joe Lieberman with nine percent, Dennis Kucinich with one percent and Rev. Al Sharpton with zero percent.
Kerry officially declared his candidacy from the deck of the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant in September. He visited the Palmetto State again ten days later but has not been back.
Kerry's absence in the state does not dissuade 28-year-old Dedrick Siddall. He says the Massachusetts senator is the most informed candidate and has the best judgment on domestic and international issues. Siddall also says he doesn't expect to develop a personal relationship with a candidate.
The current Democratic frontrunner is focusing his efforts outside the Palmetto State. He's off to Missouri in search of that state's 74 delegates. But, Edwards will be in Greenville for Thursday night's debate.
Edwards talked to students and South Carolina State University on Wednesday, and Wesley Clark is expected in Charleston to rally for jobs. He will be in Rock Hill on Thursday before heading to Greenville. Novelist John Grisham is planning to be at USC for a Kerry rally.
Kerry is beginning a campaign swing Wednesday that will hit the seven states in next Tuesday's primaries.
Primaries Tuesday will also be held in Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and south Carolina. There are 269 delegates at stake, more than 12 percent of the 2162 needed for nomination.
Kerry's victory speech Tuesday night set the tone; he pledge to continue his battle against powerful interests. He noted that he and a group of fellow Vietnam veterans who campaign with him "still know how to fight."
Kerry's Democratic rivals aren't ready to surrender. Howard Dean plans to campaign in ten cities over the next five days.
posted 7:41am by Chris Rees
