SC Faithful Still Seeking GOP Candidate

Sunday, January 13, 2008

By SEANNA ADCOX, Associated Press Writer

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —

The faithful in South Carolina are still looking for the Republican presidential candidate who is the answer to their prayers.

Churchgoers on Sunday at the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville to those who attended services at the First Baptist Church in Columbia gave high marks to the four GOP candidates who have spent the most time in the state _ Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, would seem like a lock for South Carolina's religious voters. The former Arkansas governor, who talks openly about his faith and its tenets, won the Iowa caucuses based on strong support from evangelicals _ eight of 10 who described themselves as evangelical Christians backed Huckabee, according to an Associated Press entrance poll in Iowa.

In South Carolina, where the GOP votes on Jan. 19, white evangelicals account for 53 percent of the state's likely Republican voters, according to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Yet, churchgoers remain divided over their choices.

"This is a hard one. None of them are real statesmen," Barbara Richey, 65, said after Sunday morning services at First Presbyterian Church.

"I'd be comfortable with four of the six of them," said Steve Folks, 56. He considers former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani too liberal on social issues and said he "just hasn't connected with" former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon.

The latest poll showed McCain with a clear lead over Huckabee, who had been the front-runner in most of the surveys until McCain won the New Hampshire primary.

Many churchgoers said they support Huckabee, in part because he seems likable. They also cited his willingness to talk about religion. Even those who said they didn't plan to vote for him said they expect him to do well in South Carolina.

"Finally, there's somebody who stands for family values we can trust. And he's a Baptist," said Amy Dillon, 60, as she headed into First Baptist Church, which seats about 4,000 people and broadcasts its services statewide. Huckabee is her first choice, but she said she likes McCain too.

Lou Stirrat, 79, said she supports McCain because of his military experience but also likes Huckabee because the candidate emphasizes his Christianity. "We need to bring this country back to square one," she said.

It's tougher for Charlie Moss. He said he's still deciding between Huckabee, Thompson and Romney, someone Moss likes because of his leadership in business. Romney is a former venture capitalist. Moss said he won't vote for McCain because he backed an immigration bill that would have created a pathway to citizenship for most illegal immigrants.

"That took me out of his camp," said Moss, 61.

In Greenville, a city in the northern, more conservative part of the state, members of some megachurches were just as divided.

Bonnie and Wayne Crandell, who traveled to Greenville from nearby Fountain Inn for services at the 4,000-member Christ Church Episcopal, said they think McCain and Romney should be on the same ticket, but they're split on who should be president. He favors McCain; she likes Romney.

"I think he has the sophistication to do the job," Bonnie Crandell, 60, said of Romney. "I think his background in family politics and his business acumen will serve him well in the White House. And he's very diplomatic."

Debbie Perini, of Greenville, said Huckabee piques her interest, but her husband says he's not conservative enough fiscally or militarily. For now, she favors McCain.

"He's articulate. He knows Washington. He's conservative and I believe he's pro-life," said Perini, who in her late 50s takes care of her handicapped daughter and her retired husband.

Perini attends Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, which boasts 13,000 members and an electronic message board touting a 24-hour prayer hot line. High-definition televisions in the lobby broadcast sermons, and the typically fired-up service lasts more than two hours. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke there a few months ago.

Mark Beck, who also attends Redemption World, said he hasn't decided between Huckabee and Thompson and plans to do some research to help him make a final decision. Thompson, he said, has a slight edge because of his tough talk on illegal immigration.

"Thompson is more straight up about immigration and about smaller government," said Beck, of Greer.

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Associated Press Writer Jacob Jordan in Greenville contributed to this report.