S.C. Democrats on fire

Energized convention-goers say they are ready to elect Obama and capture state offices

By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com

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DENVER — South Carolina delegates say they’re leaving the Democratic National Convention in Denver on fire and pumped to return home to secure the Palmetto State for nominee Sen. Barack Obama.

“This is our year,” said delegate Michelle Macrina of Greenville, noting that the state Democratic Party hasn’t realized its full potential in recent election cycles.

“We won some (races) but we lost some big ones,” she said.

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WHAT'S NEXT

Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and his vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware will campaign in Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday.

What you missed
- A who’s who of breakfast guests
  Alexis Herman, who served as labor secretary in the Clinton administration, addressed the S.C. delegation at breakfast.
  
  Herman thanked the S.C. delegation for securing a primary win for Sen. Barack Obama in January. “You hit a home run,” Herman said during the delegation’s fourth and final meeting in Denver.
  
  This week at breakfast, the S.C. delegation has heard from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Democratic strategist James Carville, Louisiana U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
- Rubbing elbows with celebrities
  Better than the free food, better than the action on the convention floor are all the celebrities S.C. delegates are hanging with. Wednesday and Thursday, delegates attended events and parties with actor Danny Glover, singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, singer Cyndi Lauper, actress Ashley Judd, singer Kanye West and more.
  
  Democratic political consultant Bud Ferillo of Columbia sat in the Biden box at the Pepsi Center Wednesday night with the extended family of the vice presidential pick U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.
- Alternative fuels fuel protest
  U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said switch grass, a prevalent plant in his home state of South Carolina, should be further studied as an alternative fuel source.
  
  Clyburn and other Democratic leaders held a news conference at Denver’s Union Station about exploring alternative fuel sources.
  
  Protesters chanted, “Drill now!” and “Drill here!” as speakers took the podium. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded: “Right here? You want to drill right here? Can we drill your brains?”
  
  Clyburn took a less confrontational approach in dealing with protesters, telling them he believed in treating everybody with dignity and respect, even those with whom you do not agree.
- ‘Fired up’ and ready to sing
  When Edith Childs hears Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama talk about one voice, she likes to say he’s talking about hers.
  
  Obama has referenced Childs several times on the campaign trail — talking about the woman whose rendition of a song that some have associated with civil rights struggles could inspire even the smallest of gatherings, as it did last year during one of Obama's stops in Greenwood.
  
  Thursday — the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington, when Obama formally accepted the Democratic nomination at Invesco Field in Denver — Childs was ready.
  
  “I was fired up when I came here Friday.”
  
  And she fired up S.C. delegates at Thursday’s breakfast, leading the group in singing the song.
  
  Click here to watch Child's get fired up.

Macrina and other delegates are banking on the enthusiasm generated by Obama’s campaign to spill over and help them win some state House and Senate races this fall.

“No matter which candidate you backed in the primaries, we’re all on the same team now. The primaries are over,” said delegate Kelly Adams, 30, of Clinton. “Now it’s about health care and making sure Social Security is still there when I’m 65.”

Republicans dominate virtually all levels of government in South Carolina.

Both houses of the General Assembly are firmly in Republican control. All but one of the state’s constitutional officers are Republicans, the lone exception being S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex, who is a Democrat.

Of the eight members of S.C.’s congressional delegation, six are Republicans.

But this week, U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn of Columbia predicted the state could retake the majority in the S.C. House and take a congressional seat “within four to six years.”

The convention, as intended, has Democrats optimistic about the future. But at least one delegate said this week’s events have motivated him on a personal level.

Santino Coleman, 21, of Columbia leaves Denver with a personal mission — to become a civil rights attorney like his idol, Obama.

“(The convention) has further emboldened me,” Coleman said.

That’s not to say the convention was all inspiration and no inebriation.

Delegate John Presto of Rock Hill took advantage of the many parties. “I leave with a hangover,” he said.

Smith is providing exclusive cover of the Democratic National Convention. Click here to watch the entire speech, or click the player below for highlights.

McClatchy videoAbove: Clips from Sen. Barack Obama's DNC acceptance speech