Election focuses on ONE issue

Local activists press presidential hopefuls to back poverty fight

MOUNT PLEASANT — Jesse Pruitt dropped by Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani's appearance in downtown Charleston on Friday, but his presence there stemmed not from the candidate but from a cause.

The College of Charleston senior and political science major wore jeans and a black T-shirt with "One Vote '08" on the front and "Make Poverty History" on the back.

He was joined by Leslie Burton, a Charleston physical therapist attired in the same T-shirt. They tried to talk briefly with Giuliani and have their photo taken together. "This campaign was started by (rock band U2's frontman) Bono," Pruitt told the former New York mayor.

As the presidential campaign continues to ripple across South Carolina, its form differs from previous races not only because there are so many candidates on both sides but also because a growing number of voters are showing to push for a particular cause, whether it's Bono's ONE campaign, the "Fair Tax," education reform or the fight against chronic diseases.

"There is a symbiotic relationship where they feed off the candidates and the candidates feed off them as well," College of Charleston political science professor Bill Moore said. "For them, it's a combination of getting their message out and seeing if there are candidates who are sympathetic to their message."

Marie-Louise Ramsdale, a political consultant also working with the ONE campaign, said it soon hopes to involve middle and high school students in activities to highlight ONE's top goals: reducing global poverty; fighting diseases such as AIDS and malaria; and improving education, particularly for young girls in the developing world.

Like the presidential candidates, the ONE campaign is concentrating on the four early primary states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. It is financed by a $30 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The ONE campaign will try to raise its profile Wednesday with events nationwide to raise awareness on global poverty.

At the College of Charleston, whichrecently organized as a "Campus of ONE," students will participate by spending Wednesday night in the Cistern in tents, cardboard boxes or simply the clothes on their backs, said Seaton Brown, a junior and vice president of the student government.

Brown said the college essentially will be competing against others in the nation to see who can get the biggest turnout. "We're looking to have more than 100 people," he said. "A lot of students really are getting involved."

The hope is that the involvement will lead to action and results.

"We want to make sure the next president not only believes in this and gives it lip service but does something about it," Ramsdale said. "We're getting positive response from the candidates. We're doing really well."

The initial success might stem from the bipartisan backing ONE has attracted, including former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges; state Sen. Robert Ford; Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.; and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

"For me, a Democratic activist with a big 'D,' it is such a relief not to be engaged in partisan politics," Ramsdale said. "It's hugely unusual for those of us who usually have a candidate and have a candidate by party, but I think it's appealing. This is a uniting campaign. ... It's hard to see something wrong in wanting to make sure children don't die or become orphans."

The only pushback the campaign occasionally encounters is from those who ask if ONE knows that some American children also struggle with hunger and health problems.

"Sure we do, but we're a resource rich country," Ramsdale said. "These other countries have nothing. There, we're just trying to do the bare, bare basics. Here, most children can get clean drinking water and a school lunch program."

Burton, a member of Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant, said she is attracted to the campaign for religious and moral reasons.

"We're a very wealthy and blessed nation," she said. "To whom much is given, much is required."

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.