Pee Dee residents say fighting could hurt candidates, praise Edwards for avoiding fray

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Pee Dee residents who attended or watched Monday’s Democratic presidential debate said the sparring between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could harm the candidates, while John Edwards generally received high marks for avoiding the fight and focusing on issues.

Celebrities campaigning for Clinton and Obama also made their way to Francis Marion University on the day after the Myrtle Beach debate. America Ferrera of the television show “Ugly Betty” traveled to Florence with Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea. Actor Chris Tucker and actress Kerry Washington visited to promote Obama.

Edwards supporter Debbie Miller of Florence said that during the debate, she became very frustrated with the “back-and-forth” arguing between U.S. Sens. Obama, D-Ill., and Clinton, D-N.Y.

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Miller said the discussion at the debate dealt little with issues germane to South Carolina. She said before the debate that she wanted the moderators to ask the candidates about coal-fired plants like the one Santee Cooper hopes to build in Kingsburg. Edwards has called for a ban on such plants.
Wingard and Miller said they doubted the debate changed any decided voters’ minds, and Williams said he remains a steadfast Obama supporter.
Marguerite Willis of Florence, a Clinton supporter, said Clinton responded appropriately and that Obama’s comment surprised her because “he has stated so publicly that he would stay above that fray.”

http://www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-FMN-2008-01-22-0008.html