RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Anton Gunn is a Democratic candidate for the statehouse. He is also a black man running in a majority-white district -- a swath of Old South countryside and new suburban sprawl that hasn't elected a Democrat in 24 years.
Two years ago, Gunn ran for the same office and lost. But he believes that 2008 is his year. He has learned a lot since then as state political director for Barack Obama's primary campaign in South Carolina.
Another plus: This time around, Obama will be at the top of the ticket -- and black voters, Gunn said, are excited like never before.
"If there is increased African American turnout," he said, "it's definitely going to help."
Obama's chances of winning South Carolina and its eight electoral votes appear slim: Statewide polls show the Democratic presidential nominee trailing John McCain, his Republican opponent, by double digits.
Even so, Democrats here and in other Republican-heavy Southern states hope to benefit from an anticipated surge of black voters eager to be a part of history, in spite of the winner-take-all rules of the general election.
Stacey Gore, a black voter in Gunn's district, said none of his black friends were dismayed by the fact that Obama was trailing in the polls here.
"Everybody I know is fired up," he said.
Gore said he would be voting for president for the first time in 12 years. The 45-year-old truck driver blames high gas prices and a weak economy on the Republicans, and he plans to vote for Obama.
He added that he didn't know much about Gunn -- though he would probably pull the lever for him.
"I'll probably vote straight Democrat," Gore said.
Such sentiments could give a boost to a number of down-ticket races in Southern states where McCain holds a commanding lead. In Mississippi, African American enthusiasm for Obama could help former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove -- a white, moderate Democrat -- in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Roger Wicker.
In Louisiana, the same forces could help the reelection effort of Rep. William J. Jefferson, an African American who has been indicted on corruption charges. Black voters could help tip the scales for him in what may be a racially polarized runoff election Nov. 4.
Here in South Carolina -- where Republicans control the governorship and the state House and Senate -- Democrats are setting more modest goals. The excitement over Obama, plus economic worries, they say, could help them gain some statehouse victories.
