Edwards' profile rises for state primary

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Edwards, 50, a freshman senator and native of Seneca who has emphasized his South Carolina roots, may now be the emerging favorite in this state's first-in-the-South primary on Feb. 3, analysts said following his strong showing Monday in Iowa behind Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

From campaign aides to individual supporters, the morning brought efforts to win over Gephardt people and begin the stretch run for South Carolina, one that will hit high gear after Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin said Iowa's results confirmed "a wide-open, competitive national race. The road to victory leads straight through South Carolina and South Carolina Democrats are ready for a great fight."

In Iowa, Edwards and Kerry overtook former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean who came in a distant third and Gephardt, whose fourth place showing in a neighboring state caused him to drop out of the race Tuesday.

John Simpkins, a Furman University political scientist, said he doubts Gephardt's departure will make a difference for any one candidate because "he had low poll numbers and no strong organizational presence here."

But, he said that Edwards could be "poised to pick up voters who might have been attracted to Rep. Gephardt's working class background and his up-by-the-bootstraps personal story."

Edwards' showing in Iowa helped restore the spirits of his boosters who had largely watched his campaign seemingly spinning its wheels until 10 days ago when Dean's lead and Gephardt's second place standing began to erode as Iowa Democrats gravitated toward Kerry and Edwards.

"I was hoping he'd do good, but I had my doubts a couple of weeks ago," said an Upstate Edwards booster, Sen. Glenn Reese of Spartanburg. "After (Monday), I think we're on track."

In the spotlight

To University of Virginia presidential scholar Larry Sabato, "Finally, the best campaigner of the post-Clinton Democratic generation has drawn the spotlight so that he can demonstrate his considerable skills." Sabato posted the comment Tuesday on his political Web site.

Edwards, once cited by People magazine as one of the sexiest men in America, stuck with positive themes and stayed on message in Iowa, dispelling any lingering notions that he was still another pretty face but second-tier candidate, analysts said.

Now, he will compete in South Carolina as the favorite, Sabato said.

Edwards will greet supporters at Meador's Sandwich Co. in downtown Greenville at 8:30 a.m. today.

He will return to Columbia on Friday and come back to South Carolina early next week either just before or after New Hampshire where he has lagged far behind Dean, Clark, and the now surging Kerry.

Alex Mumford, Greenville County's Democratic Party chairman, said Iowa "definitely" gives Edwards credibility in South Carolina that his modest poll ratings had previously denied him.

Kerry, an austere New Englander and Vietnam War veteran, is more of an enigma in South Carolina.

After lining up support early on and assembling a campaign staff, he largely pulled out of South Carolina last year, although his campaign has said he will wage a vigorous effort after New Hampshire.

Kerry's campaign could not be reached for comment.

Dean's three dozen South Carolina staff members huddled in Saluda Shoals much of the day.

Stacie Paxton, Dean's South Carolina spokeswoman, said Iowa changed nothing for the campaign.

"We came into South Carolina to win and we're still playing it that way," she said. "Now that Iowa's over, we're expecting an onslaught of national press and a whole lot of volunteers to start heading this way."

Clyburn silent

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark did not compete in Iowa.

Gephardt's name and that of former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who dropped out Jan. 9, will remain on the primary ballots which were printed several weeks ago, said Nu Wexler, the state party's executive director.

The top prize from Gephardt's departure wasn't tipping his hand.

Rep. Jim Clyburn of Columbia will discuss the primary in a conference call this afternoon with reporters, but won't necessarily endorse another candidate, said Hope Derrick, his spokeswoman. Clyburn's top aide, Ike Williams, had managed Gephardt's state campaign.

Edwards telephoned Clyburn on Monday night, said Jenni Engebretsen, Edwards' South Carolina spokeswoman. She would not comment on the nature of the conversation. Clyburn, the state's highest elected black official, had worked at home and across the country for Gephardt and said previously he would not make another endorsement. But that's standard procedure for a candidate's top allies because such an admission would suggest a lack of confidence.

Changing sides

Edwards' speeches and policy pronouncements are built around his family's working class roots in Seneca and his adopted hometown of Robbins, N.C.

Engebretsen said the campaign is making a concerted effort to win over former Gephardt supporters and "we've been getting a lot of calls from them."

Among the first aboard was state Rep. Leon Howard, D-Columbia, she said.

Mumford said that before lunch on Tuesday, he had several calls from Gephardt supporters who told him they were moving to Clark. "I really think he made a hit (Monday) at Southside High School" with fiery criticism of the Bush administration.

"He speaks the language our folks want to hear," Mumford said.

He said conversations with Greenville Democrats have followed a trend: "They don't think Dean will do very well down here, and I think that's probably reasonably accurate. You can apply the same to Edwards. You wouldn't expect him to do as well in New England."

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Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.