(Columbia) Jan. 20, 2004 - Most of the political world turned their eyes to the Iowa caucuses on Monday, but some Democratic hopefuls spent Sunday in the Palmetto state. Reverend Al Sharpton and General Wesley Clark made their presence known at King day events in the Midlands.

Both called for the Confederate flag that flies at a monument in front of the Statehouse steps to be taken down. Clark says the Confederate flag is of the past and belongs in a museum. His words drew the loudest applause during his speech about the need to continue Martin Luther King Junior's fight for equity in America.

Sharpton says MLK Day is not one where you wave a flag of Conferancy. He called it a flag of racism.

Sharpton reminded the crowd of the right to vote in South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary on February third. He urged people not to let anyone buy or bribe them out of their votes.

Clark sang with worshippers at Zion Baptist Church and led a march to the State House.

Clark explained why he wasn't in Iowa, "I got in with no money, no staff. Iowa was too difficult to go into early." So, for those not campaigning in Iowa, King day events in South Carolina were an obvious chance to reach a lot of voters.

Steven Gilchrist took note of the candidates who spend time in South Carolina, "It says to me they are concerned about what happens here in south Carolina and the issues we face."

But Andrea Williams says just seeing the candidates won't impact her vote, "It's good to see them, but it's not going to impact my thinking at all."

But these candidates hope that voters remember who was with them to celebrate January 19th when they vote in South Carolina's February 3rd Democratic primary.

Sharpton spoke to the congregation at Reids Chapel AME in Columbia and at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hartsville on Sunday. He also campaigned in Florence on Monday morning before heading to Columbia.

Senator Joe Lieberman spent Sunday morning shaking hands at Columbia's Brookland Baptist.

Civil rights lawyer Julius Chambers made a stop at Zion Baptist Church's Martin Luther King Jr Celebration on Sunday on behalf of North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Civil rights leader Harvey Gantt visited Greenville County churches Sunday in support Edwards.

The Clark used a sandwich shop on Devine Street as the backdrop to kick-off its Vet to Vote outreach program Sunday afternoon.

South Carolina's first-in-the-South Democratic primary is February 3rd.

updated 9:42am by Eva Pilgrim