Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings both have opted not to make a public pick in the Feb. 3 vote.

Hollings' reasoning is that no matter who wins, he still has to work with John Edwards, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman in the Senate, his office said.

Riley said he's been lobbied heavily but isn't going to take sides. "I just haven't decided in my mind who is the best candidate among some very good people," Riley said.

With neither Hollings nor Riley making a public stand, the highest ranking Lowcountry Democrat to make an endorsement is U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose massive 6th District spreads from Columbia and the Pee Dee to include parts of Charleston.

Clyburn backs U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri and was scheduled to stump on Gephardt's behalf this weekend in Iowa and Michigan.

HELLO JESSE, HELLO AL

It was quite the scene in a rural black church in Florence County last Sunday when two leaders known for their feud over who is the voice of black America unexpectedly bumped into each other.

Presidential candidate the Rev. Al Sharpton was at the pulpit of the overflowing Savannah Grove Baptist Church in Effingham when the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a South Carolina native, walked in.

Both men are friends of pastor Ralph W. Canty and had phoned ahead asking to speak to the congregation, although Jackson was unaware that Sharpton would be speaking ahead of him at the same service.

Canty said the men shook hands but didn't have time for an exchange. "They were both very civil and polite, and there was no negative energy whatsoever," he said.

As far back as 2001, media reports began discussing a rift between the two. Associates described it as a struggle over which man held the reins of black power.

Sharpton spoke about his campaign and then left for another engagement. Jackson spoke about the power of voting.

Although Sharpton and Jackson were civil, the appearance of the two celebrity leaders at one time was a shock to Canty's flock. "I think the people were totally overwhelmed by it," Canty said.

COMPUTER DECISION COMING SOON

Iowa Democrats will do a test run of their vote-counting computer Monday; and if it works, South Carolina Democrats probably will use it to count returns.

The system allows precinct workers to telephone in their final results to a master computer. Tallies are punched in on a phone pad. For example, if Howard Dean gets 100 votes in a precinct, workers would dial a number to a computer and then plug in 1-0-0. It would save hours of time.

State Democratic Party Executive Director Nu Wexler said Iowa officials are doing a test for the media on Monday involving that state's nearly 2,000 precincts.

South Carolina also has in the neighborhood of 2,000 precincts, which makes the system attractive if it works, he said.

Iowa is expected to draw at least 100,000 voters in its Feb. 19 caucuses, while South Carolina's primary turnout could be as high as 300,000.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I would be a real S.O.B. if I were to ignore all the positive impact that Dick Gephardt has had on my congressional district and South Carolina." -- U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., explaining his endorsement for his long-time D.C. friend.

UPCOMING VISITS

None of the campaigns have announced visits for the week ahead. But the Joe Lieberman campaign announced the opening of a Lowcountry field office at 16 Vendue Range. A phone number will be available later.

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/011104/sta_11politicalcolumn.shtml