http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/29/wus29.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/29/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=169685As a Boston blueblood, he is a Yankee patrician to his bootstraps. But, fresh from his two resounding victories in the first electoral tests of the race, he comes with a following wind akin to the momentum that swept Sherman's armies through South Carolina in 1865.
The main obstacle in his path is a local boy, John Edwards, a telegenic senator for neighbouring North Carolina. His fresh face belies his 50 years, and his message of "hope" has given him the highest approval ratings of any Democratic candidate.
But after an at-best satisfactory tied third place in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, Mr Edwards flew in to South Carolina knowing he has to win its primary on Tuesday to stay in the race.
As Mr Kerry's critics keep saying, in recent decades northerners have been trounced when running for the White House. The last three Democrats to win the White House were southerners. "I don't think the challenge is to shake off a Yankee label," said Marcus Jadotte, Mr Kerry's deputy campaign manager. "Given his military record
he fits well with South Carolina The challenge is the native son. But we can compete."