Hoping to gain some traction in his campaign for the U.S. presidency, Joe Lieberman is scheduled to address hundreds of area church women Monday in Orangeburg.

Lieberman, a Democratic U.S. senator from Connecticut, is scheduled to address the group at 10 a.m. at Williams Chapel AME Church, 1198 Glover St.

Also during his visit, he has scheduled a "conversation" with a group of area AME ministers and a private meeting with Bishop Henry A. Belin Jr.

Belin's wife, Lucinda, serves as the supervisor of the Women's Missionary Group, which under her leadership "has always been active in voter rights and getting out the vote," said the Rev. Roderick Belin, pastor at Williams Chapel.

"When Joe's (South Carolina) campaign (manager) called, we were eager to accept his offer to hear from the candidate," Roderick Belin said. "The time is getting close for all of us to decide who we will support in the primary."

Lieberman announced last year he would introduce a bill to authorize federal funding for historically black colleges and universities to preserve and restore buildings eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

It's the Senate equivalent of legislation introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, a Democrat who represents South Carolina's 6th District, earmarking $530 million to help HBCUs across the nation restore and preserve historically significant buildings.

The bills could help in the restoration of Lowman Hall, which has a prominent place on the campus of South Carolina State University and in the hearts of many S.C. State alumni.

"I admire the great work that Rep. Clyburn has been doing in the House of Representatives to help historically black colleges ... save and restore historic sites on their campuses," Lieberman said at the time. "Such precious pieces of America's proud heritage of equal opportunity deserve to be preserved."

Lieberman and several other Democratic presidential hopefuls have been seeking Clyburn's endorsement, which carries weight in the state which has the earliest Democratic primary in the South.

Clyburn has said he will endorse a candidate at some point before the primary next Feb. 3.

Also being closely watched is how much each candidate has raised in donations. Candidates need cash to run their campaigns and get their messages out.

In this measure, Lieberman is "fighting an uphill battle," The Associated Press concluded after reviewing Federal Election Commission reports.

"Lieberman is being greatly outgunned by his Democratic competition in most of the Feb. 3 battlegrounds," The AP continued.

"Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina ... has out-raised Lieberman in six of the seven states (having primaries on Feb. 3). And former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean ... who is the overall money leader with about $25 million (in donations) ... out-raised Lieberman in five."

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.

Annual Conference

The 80th Annual Central Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church "promises to be a big and exciting meeting," says the Rev. Roderick Belin.

"We are expecting over a thousand people," said Belin, who is pastor of the host congregation, Williams Chapel AME Church at 1198 Glover St., Orangeburg.

Belin's father, Bishop Henry A. Belin Jr., plans to retire from active service next July so this will be the last annual convention over which he presides.

The convention will come to a close Saturday with the announcement of the assignment of pastors for the coming year.

Although the official opening service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, conference events will begin Sunday evening.

Belin said 371 women from the church's Orangeburg, Manning and Wateree districts have registered for the all-day Women's Missionary Group meeting Monday.

Reports will be given on the previous year's missionary activities, including sponsorship of overseas ministries, college scholarships and after-school program ministries.

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