Campaign briefs

Obama is picked by party chief

COLUMBIA --- The chairwoman of the South Carolina Democratic Party -- who also is a superdelegate -- announced her support for Barack Obama on Tuesday.

"It just seemed like the right thing to do," Carol Fowler told The Associated Press.

Ms. Fowler said she made up her mind last week to back the presidential candidate who "had the best potential for winning in the fall." She said Mr. Obama has demonstrated that ability by turning out new voters and winning in conservative states, including South Carolina.

Ms. Fowler's husband also is a superdelegate. He has endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"It's bad judgment on her part," joked Don Fowler, a former Democratic National Committee national chairman.

Two other state superdelegates are split, with Waring Howe supporting Mr. Obama and Marva Smalls pulling for Mrs. Clinton. Four others have not said whom they will support.

Schaefer will enter 10th District race

ATLANTA --- State Sen. Nancy Schaefer, R-Turnerville, announced Tuesday that she will not seek re-election but instead will seek the Republican nomination for Congress in the 10th District, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens.

Barry Fleming, the House Republican Whip from Harlem, also is seeking the GOP nomination. The only Democrat in the race so far is Bobby Saxon, an Athens-based insurance broker.

Ms. Schaefer, the founder of a group called Family Concerns, was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994 and sought the GOP nomination for governor in 1998. She was elected to the state Senate in 2004.