After wins in Iowa and NH, Kerry must make up for lost time in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. - John Kerry gained momentum with early victories in New Hampshire and Iowa, giving him a much-needed boost to compete in John Edwards' backyard in South Carolina's primary next week.

Kerry officially declared his candidacy from the deck of the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant on Sept. 2 and visited the state again 10 days later, but he hasn't been here since.

Kerry's absence in the state does not dissuade Dedrick Siddall, 28, of Aiken, who said the Massachusetts senator is the most informed candidate and has the best judgment on domestic and international issues. "I don't expect to develop a personal relationship with a candidate," Siddall said.

With less than a week before the South's first contest, set for Tuesday, political observers said voters are taking a look at Kerry and comparing him with Edwards, who has staked his campaign on a win in his native state. Edwards was born in Seneca and is now a senator in North Carolina.

"We're headed for a Titanic battle between Kerry and Edwards," said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, who specializes in presidential and Southern politics.

Kerry finished well ahead of Howard Dean in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Edwards and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark were in a distant race for third.

Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon said Kerry's win in two early voting states allows him to take a hit in South Carolina and concentrate on the other states holding contests Tuesday - Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

"I think the folks are realizing he can stand up against Bush," said Kerry's state political director James Dukes. "I don't think it's about territory. It's about issues."

The latest South Carolina poll showed Kerry, Edwards, Sharpton and Clark bunched at the top with 18 percent of likely voters still undecided.

Black voters will be critical in the contest, but Sharpton could take a significant portion, political experts said.

With the battle behind them in New Hampshire, Edwards and Clark were headed to South Carolina on Wednesday to tout their roots as they fight to gain momentum.

Clark - an Arkansas native and four-star general with a stellar military resume - should do well in the region.

Former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges, a senior adviser for Clark, said a third or fourth place showing in New Hampshire would be considered a success "since this is his first time out of the box." Clark did not compete in Iowa.

Clark also was up against Kerry and Dean in their region of the country. "That's their home turf," Hodges said. "I think he's a natural here."

Hodges said Clark's success is more important on Feb. 3. "It's a pretty good national sampling," he said.

It remains to be seen how past and present military personnel in the state will react to Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, and Clark, a former NATO commander.

Mark Buff, 45, of Columbia, who just retired after 20 years in the Army, says military experience is not a prerequisite to be commander in chief.

Buff said he will vote for Edwards because he talks about the "two Americas" - one for those who are wealthy and one for those who are not.

"I know exactly what he's talking about because we're from the less privileged," Buff said.