CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Just two days after South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary, President Bush flies in on Thursday to make a speech on port security. And to some, the timing is not mere chance.

"I don't think it's coincidence at all," said Joe Erwin, state Democratic chairman. "We've demonstrated that these issues that the Democrats have been talking about and focused on are issues that are going to matter in November. They are now reacting to us and not the other way around."

"It obviously has political importance and is no doubt politically motivated based on the timing," said Bill Moore, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "I'm sure you will see similar visits made by Bush to other states after Democratic primaries."

Indeed, Bush visited New Hampshire last week shortly after that state's primary.

The president planned a Thursday morning visit to Charleston for a briefing and a speech on port security at a State Ports Authority pier.

It will be his fifth visit to the state in just over two years. Bush went to Greenville last fall and, last spring, gave the commencement address at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

In 2002 he came to Charleston where he gave a speech that helped raise funds for fellow Republican Mark Sanford, who was later elected governor. In December, 2001, Bush visited The Citadel.

The White House press office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.

But presidential aides said last week there was no political aspect to Bush's visit to New Hampshire, which he won narrowly in 2000 - the only state he won in the Northeast that year.

South Carolina is different. It went solidly for Bush in 2000 just as it had for his father before him. The state Republican Party for years has claimed the state as "Bush Country."

Moore said the Bush visit can help offset the recent publicity Democrats received.

"The Democrats for the past month have pretty much had the media attention to themselves," he said.

The Bush campaign will wait until the Democratic nominee is decided "then they will start spending their $140 million," Moore said. "In the meantime, such official visits do provide a counter."

It's the second time in less than a year Bush has visited following a high-profile Democratic event. The commencement address last May was less than a week after the Democrats had a debate in Columbia.

"Bush has got a little habit about South Carolina. Anytime the Democrats get any coverage and have an event, he is not far behind," said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen.

Luke Byars, executive director of the state Republican Party, said he could not comment on an official policy speech of the president.

"On the political side, we are thrilled to have him come back in South Carolina. There are a number of states around the country that would kill to have Air Force One land in their state," he said.

Although Democratic Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina scored a landslide victory Tuesday, neither Moore nor Thigpen feel Bush is in danger in South Carolina.

"I don't think that says this is not Bush Country" but it may say the GOP will keep an eye on Edwards, who was able to get Southern whites to vote for him in large numbers, Thigpen said. "Maybe that's one of the things that has prompted Bush to come."

Both political scientists say the state should go Republican and neither expects Bush to be back to campaign this fall.

"If this state is seen as possibly going Democratic, then George Bush is in deep trouble," Moore said.