(Columbia-AP) Jan. 23, 2004 - Presidential hopeful John Kerry got a big win in South Carolina on Thursday, more than a week before the state's February 3rd Democratic primary.

The state's senior Democrat, US Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, came out in support of Kerry. Hollings called Kerry the one who could take the country out of the economic dumps.

Hollings says his Senate colleague from Massachusetts has the courage and experience to take on President Bush in November. Hollings says Kerry is the "only fella I know" that can do that. Hollings says North Carolina Senator John Edwards does not have the experience that Kerry has.

Hollings says Kerry is the only with the courage and experience to take on President Bush in the general election. The South Carolina senator says he waited to endorse a candidate to let the excitement build for South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary.

Kerry says Hollings' support will resonate across the country. Hollings' support is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Kerry's efforts in the state where he first officially declared his candidacy in September. Since then, the Massachusetts senator has been seen little in South Carolina, and he has yet to put up any ads in the state.

A big prize still out there for the presidential hopefuls is US Representative Jim Clyburn. South Carolina's only black Congressman had backed Dick Gephardt until the Missouri Congressman dropped out of the race after a fourth place in Iowa's caucuses on January 19th.

Edwards made an appearance in Columbia on Friday. He stressed the importance of voting during an event with the Voter Education Project at 2:30 at the Margarette H. Miller Cosmetology Center on Fontaine Road.

Senator Joe Lieberman's daughter, Rebecca, is also expected in the Palmetto State on Friday. She'll be touring and talking with students at several colleges in Columbia, Clinton and Greenville.

updated 8:07am by Chris Rees