T&D Region voters braved cold and overcast conditions -- and even the slight chance of early morning snow flurries -- to cast ballots for the presidential hopefuls Saturday during the first-in-the-South Democratic primary.

Lines at about a handful of Orangeburg voting precincts were moderately steady throughout the morning hours into the afternoon.

The primary took on historical proportions with voters aiming to propel the nation's first woman, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, or the nation's first African-American, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, into the nation's highest political office. Former N.C. Sen. John Edwards is considered the other viable Democratic candidate.

With Clinton and Obama leading contenders, political analysts over the past weeks have focused on Democratic voting blocks and how race and gender may swing the vote.

Saturday's results showed that African-Americans statewide voted overwhelmingly for Obama. T&D interviews at the polls were an indicator of the trend.

Of 13 randomly selected voters, nine were African-American. Six supported Obama and three backed Clinton. Among four white voters interviewed, Clinton got two and Edwards two.

A T&D two-week unscientific online poll through Saturday showed Obama with 1,081 votes or 48 percent and Clinton with 466 votes or 21 percent. Edwards had 95 votes or 4 percent. The poll includes Republican candidates as well.

Voters speak

At the Prince of Orange Mall by 10 a.m., about 200 voters had passed through the doors.

One was Stanley Wakefield.

Wakefield, 43, an African-American male and assistant resident manager at Claflin University, cast his vote for Obama.

"In reference to the issues, I felt like he was the strongest of the candidates all together," he said. "I really liked the change he wants to make on the policies in general. I feel like his views will more strongly (relate) to mine. He has kind of captivated me."

Letha Walker, 67 an African-American woman, cast her vote for Clinton at the Orangeburg County Council on Aging. At the OCCOA, 111 voters walked through the doors before 11 a.m.

She said Clinton brings much experience.

"I like everything that she stands for -- health care, jobs, stopping the lobbyists," Walker said. "Obama is all right but now just ain't the time for Obama, not the way this country is swaying. A lot of people say it involves race. Race has nothing to do with it. Experience is what I am looking for."

Another voter echoed Walker's sentiment.

"Hillary Clinton," said an African-American female who identified her age as mid-40s and her political stand as confidence in Clinton being the next U.S. president. "It is the experience factor, She has the zeal and personnel there I want. I like her interest in college students and what they are about. I do not appreciate people saying that because I am black I am going to vote for Obama. Obama is a very motivational speaker, but I do not think Obama is ready to be president. I think he is full of rhetoric."

Twenty-eight-year-old South Carolina State University strength conditioning coach in the athletics department, Thomas Stallworth said that as a young African-American, Obama appeals to him.

"I am not going to deny the fact that one it was based on race, but he appeals to me as a younger voter," Stallworth said. "The energy he has and the effort he has put forth in the state. I was kind of disappointed to see that with the Democratic vote coming up this week that Hillary Clinton left the state and had gone other places."

Stallworth said Obama's willingness to come to SCSU and the Orangeburg area a few times during his campaign shows a man who cares about the plight of small town America.

"None of the other candidates have made that conscious effort during this week," he said.

Stallworth said as a coach he sees criticism about Obama's lack of experience not holding water.

"In my field as a coach, one of the common cliches is that everyone has to have their first job," he said. "When you get your first job, you don't have experience because it is your first. I am always mindful of that."

He said Obama's stand on education attracted him.

"As he put it ,,. we have to have a way to assess our children," Stallworth said. "People have to have standards to live by."

Jan Rudisill said as a 74-year-old white woman, she voted for Hillary.

"It is about time a woman got a hold of this country," she said. "It was a toss-up between her and Obama and she won."

Rudisill said in addition to Clinton's experience, she is certain that during any struggle in office, Clinton will be assisted by the 42nd U.S. president and her husband Bill.

"I thought he was a darn good president and I think she will be too," Rudisill said.

Good turnout, minor voting issues

At Whittaker Elementary School, poll workers said voters were lined up five to six strong before the doors opened at 7 a.m.

And at 11 a.m., there were two lines, each eight deep.

"We have not had a dull moment," said Daisy Morgan, poll manager, noting that 179 individuals had voted in four hours.

Howard Jackson, Orangeburg County director of voter registration and elections, said at midafternoon that turnout appeared to be steady to strong all day at many of the precincts and at the Voter Registration Office on Amelia Street.

Jackson said while there were no technical or voting machine problems, although there was an issue with individuals thinking they were registered when in fact they were not or with people, particularly students, who are registered in another county.

"Many students did the 'Rock the Vote' or 'Get out the Vote' campaign but either the application was never turned in or ... turned in late," Jackson said. "Therefore they were not registered in this election."

For a period of time Saturday afternoon, an estimated 40 college students lined the second-floor hall outside the Voter Registration offices filling out change-of-address forms in order to vote provisional ballots. State law requires those who have moved to an area within 30 days of an election be able to vote at their new residence in that 30-day period.

"If you move within 30 days, you can vote today, but if you move out of that 30-day window, you have to go back to that county because you have been here long enough to have changed your address in that county," he said.

Orangeburg Rep. Jerry Govan, who has endorsed Obama, was distributing change-of-address forms to the students enabling them to vote.

"They are lining the halls to get registered so their voices can be heard," Govan said. "These students will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot."

"They are qualified electors," he said. "We should not make it hard or difficult for people to vote. There is nothing illegal or any fraud."

Jackson also cited some minor infractions from the various campaigns related to maintaining a sufficient distance from polling places.

"We have had some trying to breach that 250 feet," Jackson said.

More voter voices

Two of the voters at Whittaker Elementary were Christopher Bade, 30, and his fiance, Cheryl McCreary. Both are white and both said Edwards got their votes.

"I like his progressive policies and his strong stance on the war," Bade said.

McCreary said of all the candidates, Edwards seems to just "get it."

"He seems to understand middle class Americans and the crunch we're in right now," she said,

Bade said despite Edwards trailing in a number of polls behind Clinton and Obama, it is still early.

"I still think he is viable. Certainly his middle class values and his emphasis on taking care of the working class," Bade said.

Dr. Frank Perez, an Orangeburg educator who is white, cast his vote for Clinton.

"I like her experience, I like her background and I think she can do a good job for the Democrats and for the country," he said. "I think her stance on the war in Iraq and her idea for withdrawing the troops is good. I think her ideas are sound and workable.

"Since I am an educator, I am very interested in her ideas of providing education for everyone, including those who do not have the money to attend college,"

Tawanda Robinson, a 31-year-old African-American female, said Obama is the candidate of change, something the country needs.

"He has a positive message he gives to everyone," Robinson said, noting that Obama has not been in politics as long as others and understands the common person. "He is the new face. He knows what is going on around us."

Particularly attractive is universal health care and "No Child Left Behind."

Obama has criticized "No Child Left Behind" by noting that American students in math and science score low compared to other nations. He has said that a flaw in the system is the focus on meeting standards rather than measuring progress, especially in the special education category.

He has also blamed President Bush for not adequately funding the program.

An African-American voter, choosing to ide.jpgy himself as Kennerly and his age as '80s, said he voted for Clinton.

"I believe she is electable," he said. "I don't believe Obama is electable. He might get a few states."

Kennerly said, "I like Bill. That is what I like about Hillary. She is straightforward."

Kennerly did have some praise for Obama though.

"He is truthful, he is very honest and he is sincere," he said. "He is drawing a crowd. Super Tuesday will tell the story."

Betty Gadson and friend Martha Williams say they both cast their votes for Obama. They downplayed Obama's appeal only to young voters, saying he gets support from "the more seasoned black voter" as well.

"I think he will make a good president," Gadson said, with Williams agreeing.

"I think he will do well for the poor people," Williams said. "He will be someone who listens not to just the rich but who listens the poor just as well."

And what about the lack-of-experience criticism?

"You don't have to be a genius to do what you gotta do," Gadson said.

Williams said she is happy Obama has attracted the young to vote, especially African-Americans.

"We need to get out more young people to vote while they can vote," she said. "One time you couldn't vote, now you can vote. You need to get out and vote for whoever you want."

Arthur Rose Jr., a 54-year-old African-American, said Obama is the candidate for him.

"He brings excitement to the whole electoral process and a rejuvenating of the American spirit," Rose said. "I think he has the qualities to bring the nation together. He is a smart guy."

Rose said Obama's plan to reorient the military to go after the Taliban and bin Laden instead of Iraq, as well as his program to improve education, are selling points.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

You must be logged in to comment.