Edwards Campaign Press Release - More Than 80 South Carolina Leaders Endorse Senator John Edwards

New endorsements build upon Edwards' strong base of support in his home state

Columbia, South Carolina – Today, as Senator John Edwards campaigns in Charleston, the Edwards campaign announced new endorsements from state and local community leaders and released a list of more than 80 South Carolina endorsements from some of the state's most respected leaders. The new endorsements, which include State House Members Karl Allen of Greenville and Vida Miller of Pawleys Island as well as five current mayors, come at a time of growing momentum for the Edwards campaign in the Palmetto State.

As a sign of support and commitment to the state where he was born, Edwards is the first of the Democratic candidates to return to South Carolina following the New Hampshire primary. His homecoming trip to the state included a rally in Clemson, where more than 1,000 supporters came out to welcome back their native son. Edwards also held a rally in Columbia yesterday, and later today he will volunteer with supporters at a Charleston food bank.

Fueled by Edwards' strong finish in the Iowa Caucuses on January 3rd, the Edwards campaign has raised more than one million dollars online in the past week. Edwards leads the Democratic field in both campaign stops and money raised in South Carolina. Edwards is the only Democratic candidate to ever win election in a "red" state, and his campaign boasts an impressive statewide grassroots organization in South Carolina.

The list of South Carolina leaders who have endorsed John Edwards for president includes:

Senator John Drummond, President Pro Tempore Emeritus, South Carolina State Senate

Abbeville, Greenwood and Laurens Counties

Senator John Land, South Carolina State Senate Democratic Leader

Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, and Sumter Counties

Senator Brad Hutto, South Carolina State Senate

Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Orangeburg Counties

Senator Peden McLeod, Former South Carolina State Senator

Colleton County

Senator Jim Bryan, Former South Carolina State Senator

Laurens County

Representative Vida Miller, South Carolina State House

Charleston and Georgetown Counties

Representative Bill Clyburn, South Carolina State House

Aiken and Edgefield Counties

Representative Leon Howard, South Carolina Representative and State Legislative Black Caucus Chair

Richland County

Representative Karl Allen, South Carolina State House

Greenville County

Representative Bill Bowers, South Carolina State House

Colleton and Hampton Counties

Representative Grady Brown, South Carolina State House

Lee and Sumter Counties

Representative Chris Hart, South Carolina State House

Richland County

Representative Lonnie Hosey, South Carolina State House

Allendale and Barnwell Counties

Representative Leon Stavrinakis, South Carolina State House

Charleston County

Representative Ted Vick, South Carolina State House

Chesterfield County

Former State Representative Dave C. Waldrop, Jr., Newberry County Democratic Party Chair

Newberry County

Former State Representative Palmer Freeman

Richland County

State Solicitor Jay Hodge

Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro Counties

Mayor Bob Coble, Mayor of Columbia

Richland County

Mayor Daniel W. Alexander, Mayor of Seneca

Oconee County

Mayor Curtis Dorsey, Mayor of Andrews

Georgetown County

Mayor O.L. "Buddy" Johnson, Mayor of Little Mountain

Newberry County

Mayor Tommy Baker, Mayor of Kershaw

Lancaster County

Former Mayor Clarence A. Shealy, Jr., Former Chair, Newberry County Democratic Party

Newberry County

Sheriff E.J. Melvin, Sheriff of Lee County

Lee County

Sheriff Herman Young, Sheriff of Fairfield

Fairfield County

Joe McEachern, Chairman, Richland County Council

Richland County

Cort Flint, Member, Greenville County Council

Greenville County

Tim Moore, South Carolina Democratic Party State Executive Committee and former Chairman of the Barnwell County Council

Barnwell County

Beverly Clyburn, Member, Aiken City Council

Aiken County

Linda Dogan, Member, Spartanburg City Council

Spartanburg County

James Lewis, Jr., Member, Charleston City Council

Charleston County

Jimmy Gallant, Member, Charleston City Council

Charleston County

Wendell Gaillard, Member, Charleston City Council

Charleston County

Paul Tinkler, Member, Charleston City Council

Charleston County

Rudolph Bradley, Member, Georgetown City Council

Georgetown County

Former Newberry County Councilman Curtis Shealy

Newberry County

Jimmy DuPre, Former Superintendent, Oconee County School District

Oconee County

Charlesann Buttone, Former Chair Georgetown County School Board

Georgetown County

Mauri Jones, Former Member Charleston County School Board

Charleston County

Randy Maatta, 2006 Democratic Nominee for the 1st Congressional District

Charleston County

Michael Ray Ellisor, 2006 Democratic Nominee for the 2nd Congressional District

Lexington County

Reverend James B. Blassingame, Pastor, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church; Second Vice President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina

Sumter County

James Sanderson, President of the Local 7898 Steelworkers' Union and former Georgetown Democratic Party Chair

Georgetown County

Kim Smith, President of Local 3508 Steelworkers Union

Dorchester County

Ronnie Maxwell, Former Chairman, South Carolina Democratic Party

Aiken County

Folly Beach City Councilwoman Laura Beck

Charleston County

Fred Sheheen, South Carolina Democratic Party State Executive Committee; Former Commissioner, State Commission on Higher Education

Kershaw County

Mike Evatt, South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee; Former Chairman, Oconee County Democratic Party

Oconee County

David Vandiver, South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee

Anderson County

Betty Fant, South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee

Lexington County

Susen Shapiro, South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee

Dorchester County

Katie Fowler, Former Statewide President South Carolina Young Democrats

Charleston County

Carrie Rachel Dean, Former Statewide President South Carolina Young Democrats

Richland County

Ken Campbell, Chairman, Oconee County Democratic Party

Oconee County

Gayle Phillips, Chairwoman, Cherokee Democratic Party County

Cherokee County

Richard Smith, Chairman, Georgetown County Democratic Party

Georgetown County

Cal Land, Chairman, Clarendon County Democratic Party

Clarendon County

Johnnie Fulton, Former Chairwoman, Greenville County Democratic Party

Greenville County

Mullins McLeod, Former Chairman, Charleston County Democratic Party

Charleston County

Boyd Brown, Third Vice Chair, Fairfield County Democratic Party; Former President, University of South Carolina Young Democrats

Fairfield County

Jamie Hinds, Former Vice Chair, Greenville County Democratic Party

Greenville County

Lori Church, Vice President, Democratic Women's Council of Horry County

Horry County

Nancy Poole, Past President, Democratic Women's Council of Horry County

Horry County

Shirley Green, President, First Congressional District Women's Council

Horry County

Emily Aspel, President, Georgetown Democratic Women's Club

Georgetown County

Susan Smith, President, Waccamaw Neck Democrat Club

Georgetown County

Ginger Johnson Sottile, Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committee

Charleston County

James E. "Jimmy" Truesdale, Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committee

Charleston County

Janet Rosenzweig, Dorchester County Democratic Party Executive Committee

Dorchester County

Tyler Jones, President, Charleston Southern University Democrats

Charleston County

Seaton Brown, Student Body Vice President, College of Charleston; Chapter President, One Campaign

Charleston County

Louise Bell, Official Historian of Seneca, SC

Oconee County

Sue Berkowitz, Community activist

Richland County

Dr. Thaddeus Bell, Community activist

Charleston County

Tally Parham, Community activist

Richland County

Sylvia Conwell, Community activist

Horry County

Tony Clyburn, Community activist

Charleston County

Courtney Clyburn, Community activist

Richland County

Donna Dewitt Matthew, Community activist

Orangeburg County

Betty Hamby, Community activist

Anderson County

Anniebell Jeffcoat, Community activist

Lexington County

Lottie Lewis, Community activist

Allendale County

Michael Cooper, Community activist

Charleston County