Experts: Bush's S.C. stop today political

CHARLESTON - Just two days after South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary, President Bush was set to make a speech today on port security.

To some, the timing is not mere chance.

"I don't think it's coincidence at all," said Joe Erwin, state Democratic Party chairman. "We've demonstrated that these issues that the Democrats have been talking about and focused on are issues that are going to matter in November. They are now reacting to us and not the other way around."

"It obviously has political importance and is no doubt politically motivated, based on the timing," said Bill Moore, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "I'm sure you will see similar visits made by Bush to other states after Democratic primaries."

Indeed, Bush visited New Hampshire last week shortly after that state's primary.

The president planned an early visit today to Charleston for a briefing and a speech on port security at a State Ports Authority pier.

It will be Bush's fifth visit to the state in just more than two years. He went to Greenville in the fall and, in the spring, gave the commencement address at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

In 2002, he came to Charleston, where he gave a speech that helped raise funds for fellow Republican Mark Sanford, who was later elected governor. In December 2001, Bush visited The Citadel.

"The president looks forward to returning to South Carolina and discussing the important issue of port security. There are a lot of different primaries, and the president will continue to travel about, doing his job as commander in chief," said White House spokesman Taylor Gross. "This is an official trip. The president is making official remarks."

Presidential aides said last week there was no political aspect to Bush's visit to New Hampshire, which he won narrowly in 2000 - the only state he won in the Northeast that year.

South Carolina is different. It went solidly for Bush in 2000, just as it had for his father before him. The state Republican Party for years has claimed the state is "Bush Country."

Moore said the Bush visit can help offset the recent publicity Democrats have received.

"The Democrats for the past month have pretty much had the media attention to themselves," he said.

The Bush campaign will wait until the Democratic nominee is decided, "then they will start spending their $140 million," Moore said. "In the meantime, such official visits do provide a counter."

It's the second time in less than a year Bush has visited after a high-profile Democratic event. The commencement address in May was less than a week after the Democrats held a nationally televised debate in Columbia.

"Bush has got a little habit about South Carolina. Anytime the Democrats get any coverage and have an event, he is not far behind," said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen.

Luke Byars, executive director of the state GOP, said he could not comment on an official policy speech by the president.

"On the political side, we are thrilled to have him come back in South Carolina. There are a number of states around the country that would kill to have Air Force One land in their state," Byars said.

Although Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., scored a landslide victory Tuesday, neither Moore nor Thigpen think Bush is in danger in South Carolina.

"I don't think that says this is not Bush Country," but it may say the GOP will keep an eye on Edwards, who was able to get Southern whites to vote for him in large numbers, Thigpen said. "Maybe that's one of the things that has prompted Bush to come."

Both political scientists say the state is expected to go Republican in November, and neither expects Bush to be back to campaign this fall.