As New Hampshire prepared for a forecast win by Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic primary, rumors swirled that Sen. Hillary Clinton was considering pulling back resources from South Carolina to focus on Feb. 5's "Super Duper Tuesday."

And then Clinton won. And her campaign invited reporters in to watch volunteers call voters at offices throughout South Carolina.

South Carolina, "for Democrats, is back in play. I had gotten the feeling, based on thin air ... that it was Obama's virtually to lose in South Carolina, based on potential turnout," said Dr. Blease Graham, a University of South Carolina political science professor.

And a South Carolina in play means Orangeburg County is back in play, as candidates chase the dense pocket of Democratic voters in the area.

"South Carolina is a battleground state right now. The eyes will be turned to South Carolina," said Rep. Bakari Sellers of Denmark, who supports Obama. "South Carolina is a must-win."

"Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties and the surrounding area are so important in the Democratic primary. That's the area they will be talking about," Sellers said. "That's the area that will determine our Democratic nominee and the next president of the United States."

And for Orangeburg, which has seen everything from candidates to soap opera stars drop by, it means more celebrities, Sellers said. And also shaking hands and talking to people, to "let them know this is the right side to be on. To let them know this is the change we've been waiting for."

"We're going to have some excitement coming to Orangeburg again. ... South Carolina is that important. We're not holding anything back," he said.

At Hillary's headquarters in Orangeburg on Tuesday, Daysell Chavis of Orangeburg was calling voters for Clinton, just as she did for Clinton's husband years ago.

She said when she was making calls before Thanksgiving, people were undecided. Now she's finding people ready to vote for Clinton.

"I feel we need a leadership change and she's competent and an expert at this," Chavis said.

State Sen. John Matthews of Bowman, co-chair of the state Clinton campaign, said the New Hampshire primary "indicates there is a viable campaign between two candidates: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."

"I think people will make up their minds as they become a little more focused," he said. As the state's voters become focused, Matthews said he believes they will look at the experience of the candidates, and that's Clinton's strength.

"I think she's going to play pretty strong. She's got to play in Orangeburg County like she will across the state. She has a broad base of support she's going to have to maintain," he said.

South Carolina's Democratic primary, which will be held Jan. 26, is expected to bring in 300,000 voters. The Republican primary is a week earlier, on Jan. 19. South Carolina registered voters can participate in one primary or the other, but not both.

Several issues will come to bear in South Carolina's Democratic primary, Graham said. Obama's got the "Oprah factor," the high-profile endorsement that could draw women to his campaign. And then there's former Sen. John Edwards, a South Carolina native who could turn the state into a three-way race.

"I think there's just a lot of room for randomness in these campaigns. ... You have things figured out and then - boom - something changes," Graham said.

And with the Feb. 5 primaries afterward, "I see South Carolina as one more linchpin in what is developing into something of a national primary instead of regional primaries with key states," he said.

Betty Henderson, chair of the Democratic Party in Orangeburg County, said, "You cannot count South Carolina out."

"We're too important a part of the process at this time. I think the candidates are looking at us as a state that empowers their campaigns even more," she said. And as a heavily Democratic county, "We're going to have a real impact on who carries South Carolina."

Sellers said candidates need the momentum.

"Lose South Carolina, and it's going to be rough over the next week," he said.

T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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