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The Rev. Al Sharpton is returning to Orangeburg County for his third visit as a Democratic presidential candidate.

Sharpton is scheduled to speak at a youth rally at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center on the campus of Claflin University.

President of the National Action Network, Sharpton is one of 10 seeking the Democratic nomination. South Carolina's Feb. 3, 2004, primary is among the first in the nation.

The Claflin University Student Government Association is sponsoring Wednesday's event, which is free and open to the public. Colleges, universities and high schools have been invited to attend.

Sharpton made appearances in Santee in August and at a gospel concert in the Seventh-day Adventists' new 4,500-seat River Oaks Pavilion on S.C. 4 in June.

It was during the June event that Sharpton called for a grassroots effort to oust President Bush in the November 2004 election and drew applause in calling for constitutional amendments guaranteeing the right to health care, the right to a public education and the right to vote.

"If we can give the children in Iraq health care, we can give the children in Orangeburg health care," Sharpton insisted.

"Bush wants to give tax cuts to the rich while we have states with deficits, including South Carolina. He's sent millions to Iraq; says we've got to rebuild Iraq as we occupy it. Well, we already occupy 50 states. You can start right here. They're cutting education funds right here in this county."

In an interview with Lee Hendren of The Times and Democrat staff, Sharpton recalled visits to Bamberg to see family members of famed soul singer James Brown while Sharpton served as Brown's manager.

Brown's daughter, Deanna, served as emcee for the June program. She works for Tom Joyner's nationally syndicated radio show.

"George Bush became president, not because he was elected by the people, but because he was selected by the Supreme Court," Sharpton said. "I decided then that we've got to do something to correct this in the next election."

Sharpton said he is often asked if he believes he can win. He says he's not a "thermometer" that gauges temperatures -- he's a "thermostat" that changes temperatures.

Winning or losing the presidency, or the Democratic nomination, or a particular state, is not the point, Sharpton said. "We're trying to change the course of the country." The "director" is not as important as the "direction.''

In August, Sharpton addressed a gathering at Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Santee about the struggle for civil rights and the important role for blacks in selecting the next president.

"Here you are 40 years later in South Carolina. Nobody bombing your churches, no dogs bitin' ya, nobody shooting ya in the driveway, just too lazy and ungrateful to use something that folks died to give you the right to," Sharpton said. "Folks got to beg you to vote when others died to give you the right to vote."

Trelvis Miller, an Orangeburg City Council member, is the 6th Congressional District coordinator for Sharpton's campaign. He is listed as the contact for Sharpton's upcoming visit.

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