Kicking off a tour of rural South Carolina communities Sunday, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman proposed a $6 billion program to cut the poverty rate to its lowest level in history and “end the notion of the working poor as we know it.”

“The biggest shortcoming of this administration has been its abandonment of the poor,” he told a Columbia news conference.

On President Bush’s watch, he noted, around 2.1 million people have lost their jobs, and 3 million have fallen into poverty.

”That’s a moral scandal — especially in this, the richest nation in the world,” Lieberman said.

The Connecticut senator visited the historic home of Modjeska Simkins, a leader of the South Carolina civil rights movement, to unveil his anti-poverty program.

Lieberman said he would pick up where former President Clinton left off and cut the poverty rate to the lowest in history.

The senator’s plan calls for expanding individual Development Accounts, special savings accounts that match investments dollar for dollar on the condition that proceeds be used to buy a home, invest in a small business or upgrade education.

He also said he wanted to increase the income tax credit and take the next steps of welfare reform by increasing child care funding and expanding aid for legal immigrants.

He stumped the state Sunday as part of “Joe’s Rural Ride,” a state tour aboard the “Winnebajoe” recreational vehicle.

Lieberman began the day by attending the worship service at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia, visiting the Workmen’s Restaurant in Greenwood, and holding town meetings in Saluda and Aiken. More than 250 people crowded into a hall in Aiken to hear the senator.

To support his anti-poverty package, Lieberman, as he does so often on the campaign trail, quoted Scripture. This day it was Deuteronomy 15:7-8: “Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need.”

“America has grown only wealthier over the years, but we remain stained by how little progress we’ve made in eliminating want and fulfilling the promise of equal opportunity,” he said.

Lieberman won some supporters Sunday on his tour across rural South Carolina. He was endorsed by Frank Puckett, chairman of the McCormick County Democratic Party. However, many indicated they are still struggling with their choices.

“I’m undecided,” said Nylor Coleman, a 52-year-old BellSouth manager.

State Rep. Anne Parks, D-Greenwood, holding her index finger and thumb barely apart, told Lieberman she was “that close” to making up her mind. But she didn’t give any hint as to how she’s leaning.

Lieberman was greeted by one woman in Greenwood who drove four hours from Tennessee just to tell him that Al Gore’s endorsement of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean did not represent the sentiments of all Tennesseans.

Lieberman says South Carolina is his “make-or-break” state. But he says he has to do well in New Hampshire if he hopes to have any momentum coming into the Palmetto State, whose primary is Feb. 3. He doesn’t say whether he needs to win, place or show. His staff, however, says he must do no worse than third place if he hopes to continue. Lieberman has enough money to get him to South Carolina, says Craig Smith, his campaign manager.

Lieberman once led all candidates in South Carolina, but he has fallen far behind, trailing in single digits.

Reach Bandy at (803) 771-8648 or lbandy@thestate.com.