February 18, 2000

Blacks: Democratic Help? Not in This Town

ORANGEBURG, S.C., Feb. 17 -- Republicans sometimes seem to be everywhere in South Carolina. But not in this small city an hour's ride south of Columbia. It remains a Democratic stronghold, particularly a stronghold of black Democrats, the backbone of the party in this state.

Sitting in the middle of farm country once heavily peopled by slaves, Orangeburg is home to many black workers and black businesses and to South Carolina State University, a well-regarded predominantly black institution.

It is not Bush country. It is not McCain country. It is not even Keyes country.

All three Republican presidential candidates, especially George W.

Bush and John McCain, have pleaded for crossover votes as they search for a winning edge. But if random conversations this morning with black Democrats who live here or go to school here are a reliable indicator -- the state has almost no black Republicans -- come Saturday neither man should expect to pick up any significant black support.

"Most of us wouldn't consider a switch to begin with," said Mike Bogan, 48, owner of an Orangeburg photo studio. "I've voted Democratic all my life.

In recent years I've given some thought now and again to voting independent. But there's no chance I'll make any change this time, certainly not with Bush or McCain."

Like almost everyone else interviewed, Mr. Bogan said it bothered him that both men, rather than take a stand on whether the Confederate battle flag should continue to fly over the Statehouse, maintained that it was an issue for South Carolinians to decide.

"It wasn't what they said, it was what they didn't say," he remarked. "They ducked it."

Mr. Bogan said he found Mr. McCain an "interesting" candidate, a man who deserved "a lot of respect."

"I was in the Vietnam War myself," he added.

Mr. Bush?

Mr. Bogan brushed him off with a wave of the hand.

And Mr. Keyes?

"He's a black man, and so if you're me, you pay attention, of course," Mr. Bogan replied.

"He says some interesting things -- and some things that are just too Republican."

To Jill Middleton, 39, a school services worker at Whittaker Elementary School, not one of the Republican candidates merits attention on Saturday.

"They're sure going to have to go it without my help," Ms. Middleton said. "Not for a second have I considered a switch. What's the point? Help who? I don't get it. Too complicated. But I understand this:

"I'm still mad at Republicans about that flag, and I'm even madder about what they did to Clinton. They should have left it up to Hillary to take care of that little mess. You can bet that's the way I'd handle it if it ever came up in my house."

Jeffrey A. Dowling, 49, a postal worker, said that he was "more or less" aware of the issues in the Republican campaign, especially the flag issue, but that he was not bothering to focus on it because it had never crossed his mind to vote Repuplican.

"I hear what they're saying on the television and radio, and then again I don't," Mr. Dowling said.

"It's hard not to hear some of it the way it keeps coming at you. But if you're a good Democrat, you just don't pay all that much attention."

Mr. Dowling was being interviewed at a barbershop, and as he spoke a local gospel station played hymns in the background. "I keep that station on all day long," he said.

Was he aware that all three Republican candidates had talked in the campaign about their religious beliefs, especially regarding abortion?

"Fine," he replied. "But the basic message I want to hear from them is not there, not for this Democrat."

Aleene Maple, recovering from a long, disabling illness and, at 41, back in college part time in search of a degree, said she had tried to focus on what the Republican candidates were saying but found the debate so contentious that it repelled her.

"The trouble is they're just slinging mud," she said, "when what they ought to be doing is acting like adults and leaders."