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Rep. Clyburn boosts chances for Gephardt

The quotes about 6th District Congressman James Clyburn and his endorsement in the February Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina are not surprising:

-- "He's the single most important person in South Carolina in terms of this primary. People trust him." -- Donald Fowler, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a politics professor at the University of South Carolina. [Newsday, 12/8/03]

-- "Jim is not just a congressman; his endorsement would carry a lot of weight." -- S.C. Democratic State Party Chairman Joe Erwin. [Winston-Salem Journal, 11/23/03]

-- "In South Carolina, Jim Clyburn will have more influence than any other individual and after him, it' a big void to any comparable individual." -- John C. Land III, Democratic leader of the South Carolina Senate who has endorsed native-born Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. [The Hill, 9/24/03]

The benefactor of all this influence is a candidate for president who had been struggling, former U.S. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

Even as he is locked in a tight race in the early Iowa caucuses with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Gephardt seemed to be making little headway in South Carolina, which holds the first primary in the South.

That changed when Clyburn went public with his choice and then accompanied Gephardt on a whirlwind tour of South Carolina, making a strong endorsement of the man from Missouri as the best choice for South Carolinians.

"I'm very pleased to announce today my intentions, starting tomorrow, to work tirelessly on behalf of the candidacy of my longtime friend Dick Gephardt," Clyburn said. "He's been a longtime friend. I've worked with him for 11 years in the House of Representatives and I've seen him demonstrate time and time again the qualities I think would make an outstanding Democratic nominee and a great president."

With Clyburn talking about the same issues, Gephardt can get his message heard above the anti-war stands of Dean, the favorite-son status of Edwards and even the surprisingly connective Al Sharpton.

Clyburn and Gephardt served together in the U.S. House of Representatives for 11 years. Of that time, Clyburn is telling South Carolinians: "We've lost 63,000 textile jobs in this state and no one worked harder against NAFTA and the unfair trade agreements with China than Dick Gephardt. No one has worked harder for a health care plan that everybody can participate in and that's not only acceptable and affordable but also portable. When people get to hear that and know that this is not just talk with him, this is part of his life's experiences, I think that he'll do well in South Carolina and the country."

With Clyburn now working for Gephardt via television spots and on local levels behind the scenes, the Gephardt status has been elevated in the state and even beyond. Clyburn carries clout.

Whether it is enough to get Gephardt, with his on-the-record support of the war in Iraq, a victory among Democrats remains to be seen. There's a long way to go -- but having Clyburn riding along is a major development.