• Dems: Bush trade policies cost S.C. jobs (This article contains several news items)

Democratic presidential candidates blamed President Bush and his trade policies Tuesday for the 4,400 South Carolina jobs lost between October and November — the biggest loss recorded for that month since the 1982 recession.

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut: “South Carolina continues to see record job loss, but instead of manufacturing jobs, George W. Bush only manufactures excuses.”

U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri: “We need a new economic policy that creates jobs, not eliminates them. It is time we elect a president whose number one focus is on creating and fighting for good-paying American jobs.”

U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts: “Bush’s reckless policies have driven up deficits as far as the eye can see, and his refusal to help states hurt by these reckless policies has ground our economy to a halt, and workers and their families in South Carolina are paying the price.”

All three touted their plans to create new jobs.

• Kerry: Expand forces to fight terrorism (This article contains several news items)

TRENTON, N.J. — Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Tuesday he would expand the U.S. military within his first 100 days as president, contending 40,000 more troops are needed to meet America’s responsibilities worldwide.

Kerry told supporters at Drake University that the occupation of Iraq, as well as the global war against terrorism, require more troops.

“In the face of grave challenges, our armed forces are spread too thin,” said Kerry, a Massachusetts senator and one of nine Democratic candidates.

Kerry said the capture of Saddam Hussein opens the door to building a coalition for peace in Iraq. He criticized President Bush for what he says has been a “go-it-alone attitude (that) has endangered our interests and enraged those who should be our friends.”

Kerry criticized former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for repeatedly shifting position on Iraq.

• On the stump in S.C. (This article contains several news items)

Here are the S.C. campaign schedules for the Democratic presidential candidates:

JOHN EDWARDS

• In Charleston today to visit the Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church Daycare Center, where he will highlight his proposals for education and health care after a classroom visit with the children and their teachers. The event is at 11:15 a.m. at Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church on Cannon Street in Charleston.

WESLEY CLARK

• In Columbia at the state Democratic Party headquarters at 2 p.m. Sunday to campaign with former Ambassador Andrew Young and U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.