Charles Staples (left) and Richard Johnson helped orchestrate Tuesday's primary elections in Aiken. RONCOCKERILLE

Georgia primary will be big

AIKEN - Democratic presidential hopefuls who stumped across South Carolina for months have left, but they can't forget about the South, not with two more Dixie primaries in Tennessee and Virginia next week and the March 2 contest in Georgia.

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Graphic shows order of finish and percentage of vote for Tuesdayıs primaries and caucuses. Click on the graphic for a larger version. Associated Press

Eleven primaries and caucuses are scheduled between now and when Peach State voters hit the polls, and candidates are gearing up for a more protracted battle than previously expected.

"The candidates figured the election would be wrapped up by then," said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia.

Not now, though.

Tuesday night's win in South Carolina by U.S. Sen. John Edwards kept his bid alive and gave him momentum heading to Tennessee and Virginia, Southern states where he plans to campaign heavily.

If he can win elections in the Old Dominion and the Volunteer State next Tuesday and retired Gen. Wesley Clark drops out, experts said Mr. Edwards will be the more conservative alternative to the front-runner, U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who won in Missouri, Arizona, Delaware, North Dakota and New Mexico earlier this week.

That could make Georgia a crucial battleground.

Although more than one candidate might make it until March 2, it's not likely more than one will survive that delegate-rich bonanza known as Super Tuesday. Georgia shares the date with nine states, including California and New York.

Mr. Kerry already has won elections in seven states and has a reservoir of delegates that puts him well in front of the pack.

Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman has dropped out of the race, and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's campaign is on the ropes.

Mr. Clark narrowly won Oklahoma on Tuesday and is still a contender.

But the advantage will go to Mr. Edwards should he be in a position to challenge Mr. Kerry in Georgia. The Peach State's large black population and proximity to South Carolina make it an easy transition for Mr. Edwards, said Bob Botsch, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina Aiken.

Mr. Edwards' message of lifting the lower and middle classes with tax breaks and better health care resonated with black voters in South Carolina, but they also liked Mr. Kerry.

According to 1,284 voters interviewed Tuesday by NBC News, Mr. Edwards captured 37 percent of the black vote to Mr. Kerry's 34 percent.

Come November, when the Democratic nominee takes on President Bush, Georgia is much more fertile ground than South Carolina, experts said.

The Palmetto State has gone Republican in at least the past three presidential elections, and Georgia supported former President Bill Clinton in 1992.

"Georgia is more winnable than South Carolina in a presidential election," Dr. Botsch said.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 279-6895

or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Thursday, February 5, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle