They've made policy announcements, held round-table discussions, and one even came to the 3,000-student school to declare an official run for the White House in front of cheering groups of young, black potential voters.

"It's excellent because it gives our students an opportunity to ask questions, policy questions of real interest to their hearts," said Sheila Ards, vice president for community development at Benedict.

As Democrats seek support from minorities, who could make up a majority in the state's first-in-the-South Feb. 3 primary, they see South Carolina's historically black colleges a prime campaign stop.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has rallied students as he pushed voter registration at predominantly black Claflin University in Orangeburg, about 40 miles south of Columbia. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark was just down the street from Claflin three weeks later visiting South Carolina State University, the state's largest historically black school.

Clark tied in a visit with the family of a third Orangeburg soldier recently killed in Iraq before heading to the university to announce his plan for the war.

"South Carolina State was the right venue to talk about Iraq and how it impacts not only the African-American community but all communities," said Clark spokeswoman Meighan Stone. "It's really what politics should be about. It's the meeting of policy and people's real life experiences."

South Carolina State student Mary-Catherine LeGette, 19, said she has heard more talk about the presidential race through church leaders in her hometown of Marion and appreciates the chance to meet the Democratic candidates when they visit her school.

"I think that's good to visit small colleges," LeGette said.

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was scheduled to hold a town hall meeting at tiny Morris College, which is operated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina.

"Edwards is reaching out to voters across South Carolina," said campaign spokeswoman Jenni Engebretsen. "Certainly reaching out to African-American voters is a big part of his campaign."

Morris political scientist Jacob Butler said young voters often are left out of the process, and this is a chance to talk about their issues.

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