COLUMBIA, S.C. - Benedict College student Heather Thomas says Democrat Carol Moseley Braun - the lone female in a male-dominated race for the White House - has her admiration and her vote.

Thomas, who was among 200 students and staff gathered at the historically black college Monday, cheered the presidential hopeful from the front row as Braun officially announced her candidacy.

"She's a minority. She's opened a lot of doors for other women," said Thomas, 21, of Indianapolis, Ind. And "she looks like my mother."

Braun, the only black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate and former ambassador to New Zealand, said she wants to be a role model for women. Braun is the only woman among the 10 Democratic presidential candidates. She and the Rev. Al Sharpton are the only black candidates.

"Our country will be stronger when we can tap the talents of the half of the population that right now has not had a chance to really participate in the higher levels of leadership," Braun said.

Braun ranks near the bottom in most surveys, but some polls show her with more support than some of her better-financed rivals. She ranks higher in some polls of black voters.

"It kind of proves the point that it's still a man's world," said student Schavon Fouch, 20, of Washington, D.C.

Classmate Rochelle Edmonds, 19, of Washington, D.C., said she also was drawn to Braun's campaign announcement because she is a black woman, but "I would say Hilary Clinton would have a better chance."

Benedict - like South Carolina - is getting a lot of national attention these days as candidates campaign to attract black voters, who could make up half of the electorates in the state's first-in-the-South primary.

Braun said she chose to visit Benedict to make her official announcement because it has an excellent reputation. "I like the synergies and the symbolisms of this school."

Braun first appeared Monday at another historically black college, Howard, before visiting Benedict. Her final appearance was scheduled in her home town of Chicago, where she got her start in politics 25 years ago with election to the Illinois legislature.

The audience at Benedict - filled with red, white and blue "Carol Moseley Braun President 2004" posters - was a bit inexperienced with how to respond to the national candidate. After a few lonesome claps during the speech, Braun would give verbal permission for the crowd of nearly 200 to applause.

Betty Davenport, 58, director of Benedict College's early childhood development center, said she was concerned about Braun's views on education and health care - not that she is a minority.

"It's not a priority," said Davenport, who has yet to decide which candidate gets her vote. "You don't want to vote for someone just because they're black. You want to vote for the right candidate."

Braun said she was not concerned about siphoning the black vote from front-runners.

"I'm hoping ... that my gender, my race will not be an impediment to anybody supporting the ideas that I put forward," she said.

Benedict College President David Swinton says everyone should have the right to test the political waters.

"I think it's a serious mistake to tell people to not run or not try to run because they might siphon some votes from somebody," Swinton said. "That's what politics are all about - siphon as many votes as you can, maybe you'll siphon enough to get elected."