Clyburn calls for nation to get back on track

South Carolina is always in the red or Republican column in national elections, but some people are hedging their bets with the possibility the state just might support Barack Obama next Tuesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. James Clyburn said Thursday.

"People are looking for us Democrats to move the country in a different direction," the First Congressional District representative said. "This country is on the wrong track, and we must do what we can to get it back. We watch the news and listen to the debates. It's an easy decision as to who is best suited to move this country forward."

Clyburn is leading a bus tour across the state in support of two Congressional candidates. Jane Dyer, a former Air Force pilot who now works for FedEx, is challenging incumbent Republican Gresham Barrett in the Third Congressional District.

In the Second Congressional District, Rob Miller, a Marine Corps veteran who served two deployments in Iraq, hopes to upset incumbent Republican Joe Wilson.

Neither candidate spoke at the rally, but afterwards, Dyer praised volunteers in the district and in Aiken who have assisted her campaign.

"South Carolina is going be very surprised when we wake up on the morning after the election," she said. "The vote of the people is going to be heard. It's about where we go with our country. We need leadership, vision, direction and commitment as Americans to work together."

The tour party included former State Superintendent of Education, Inez Tenenbaum, who lost a U.S. Senate race to Republican Jim DeMint in 2004.

"We have five days to the most historical event in many decades," Tenenbaum said. "Thank you for everything. You took the Obama prototype and have gone through this community and registered more Democratic voters than you have in many years ... We'll be so proud of this kind of president, and this country can get on the right track again."

Marion Berry, a Democratic congressman from Arkansas, said he has been traveling over much of the country to help Obama and party candidates.

"When you elect Barack Obama and Rob and Jane," Berry said, "you will send a political shockwaves to the world ... We will fulfill the destiny of the country."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.