Sharpton Battles Electability Issue in S.C

[Freddie Stubbs]

Big Test Is Ahead in State Where Black Voters May Make Up Half of Electorate
By Darryl Fears
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 22, 2004; Page A07

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On a velvety Friday night, Roderick Scott drove his silver SUV up to a smoky little pub. "I want to be around the people," he said. It was clear that Scott meant black people.

As Al Sharpton's virtual one-man campaign staff in South Carolina, Scott has constantly sought out African Americans. Every day he rolls down miles of highway, visiting churches, community groups and other gathering spots. Twelve empty cans of cheap cola -- "my caffeine drip," he called them -- rattled around the SUV's floor. He said he had leased the heavier vehicle after driving two rental cars into the ground.

"People want to see you. They want to know you. They want to hear you. It's about individual contact in individual communities," said Scott, 33, who left his wife behind in San Francisco to represent Sharpton in South Carolina.

"When they see Al Sharpton, they know who he is, an outspoken community leader," Scott said. "They know he doesn't have any reluctance to talk about the things they want to talk about. I do this because I love it. I came here to win."

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36727-2004Jan21.html

[xultar]

1. OK Now all together to the WP 1, 2, 3, DUH! n/t

[mmonk]

2. Sharpton's strength

will be in the south. Edwards's and Clark's as well.