Georgetown polls draw solid amount of voters

GEORGETOWN - The site of a shuttered Georgetown Steel mill drew presidential candidates to the area - who in turn helped the county draw a heavier-than-usual voter turnout Tuesday.

About 18 percent of registered voters in Georgetown County voted during the S.C. Democratic primary - almost double what was expected. John Edwards won the county with 44 percent of the unofficial vote. John Kerry came in second, followed by Al Sharpton.

"I'm very pleased with the turnout," said Georgetown County party Chairman Charles McGill. "I thought 10 percent would be good."

He said the solid turnout in a Democratic primary is a sign that "the Republicans are coming home."

Turnout was relatively high in Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, Santee, Browns Ferry and Andrews, among other areas.

Voters appeared just after 7 a.m. at the Dreamkeepers Cultural Arts Center on Gilbert Street, near Georgetown Steel.

The Democratic candidates have used the backdrop of Georgetown Steel and Georgetown County's high unemployment rate as part of their campaign platforms.

At least half the 200 registered voters in the Dreamkeepers Precinct cast their ballots by noon.

"I want to try to get a Democrat," said Pearl Thompson, whose son-in-law was laid off from Georgetown Steel and whose son has been to Iraq. "They are killing all those children [in Iraq], and we don't have no jobs. I hope they can get it straight. I don't want to see Bush go in again."