By Amy Lambiaso
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
amy.lambiaso@statehousenews.com

SPARTANBURG, S.C., MONDAY, FEB. 21, 2005......Seventy-three-year-old Bob Dill is happy to talk about Mitt Romney or to hear him speak, but he isn't planning to vote for him should he be the Republicans' choice for president in 2008.

For Dill, two words separate the Massachusetts governor from other
candidates mulling a potential run for the nation's highest office: gay
marriage. Sharing his morning coffee with longtime friend Don Wood, Dill at first said he would vote "for the man," regardless of the candidate's party affiliation.

But when the subject of Romney's home state and gay marriage came up, the conversation shifted.

"Massachusetts - isn't that where they have gay marriage?" asked Wood. Dill quickly answered: "Well then I wouldn't vote for him."

A gay marriage opponent, Romney last year fought unsuccessfully to stay the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's landmark ruling that legalized gay marriage, arguing voters should determine any change to the definition of marriage.

But for Dill, Romney's effort to halt the marriages was not enough, given
that a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage but allow for civil unions is now being pursued.

"I don't care," he said. "It's just not right - any of it - and I wouldn't
vote for him."

Wood and Dill shared a table at the Westgate Mall, less than 500 yards from the Summit Point Conference Center where Romney would address fellow Republicans Monday evening at the Spartanburg County Republican Party's annual Presidents' Day dinner.

With Spartanburg in its northwest corner, South Carolina was a key state in determining the GOP presidential candidate for the 2000 election, local officials say. George W. Bush visited the "gateway to the South" early and often in his campaign.

News of Romney's appearance at the fundraiser sparked national headlines last month, further fueling speculation that the governor is eying the White House.

"He's the one they say is running for president," Bob Rodgers said of
Romney. "His name's Mitt, right? I almost said it was Brit."

Rodgers said U.S. Sen. John Kerry's unsuccessful bid for president in 2004 left many South Carolina residents with sour feelings about Massachusetts. The 66-year-old Spartanburg resident also called US Sen. Edward Kennedy the "worst politician" with a far too "liberal" voting record.

"But I probably could vote for (Romney), despite those things, if he had a
good ticket," Rodgers said.

In his meetings with the press, Romney continually tries to cool any
speculation about his presidential aspirations, and has pointedly said he
intends to run for re-election in 2006. Romney said his visit to South
Carolina is similar to other appearances he makes around the nation when he speaks to various Republican groups and helps raise money for the party.

The Spartanburg County Republican Party doesn't see their event quite the same way. In promoting it, party officials describe it as an "historic
occasion" and an event that "many political analysts are describing as the kickoff for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination campaign." They're also enormously pleased that C-SPAN intends to televise Romney's address live and replay it three times next weekend.

South Carolina residents have become accustomed to visits from potential presidential candidates in recent weeks. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) made recent appearances, with Giuliani scheduled to host a fundraiser here again in April.

Voters here agree that if Romney intends to one day run for president,
visiting South Carolina is a good place to kick-start his campaign.

"It's probably a good thing if he wants to win," said 22-year-old Corinne
Depew, a luggage store employee who had never heard of Romney. "It's always
better to start early."

Depew describes South Carolina's electorate as "fairly conservative,"
though she says she has a tendency to vote for Democratic candidates.
According to the state's election commission, Bush received 937,974 votes
in the 2004 general election, with Kerry collecting 661,699 votes.

Emily Smith, Depew's 22-year-old friend and coworker, said Romney's visit
and widespread appeal would not factor into her opinion of him, should he
decide to run. When she learned of his party affiliation, she responded:
"Oh that's too bad. I'm a strong Democrat. I don't vote for Republicans."

But some votes here are open to another Massachusetts candidate.

"If he's good for us, I could vote for someone from Massachusetts, New
York, or wherever - I don't care," said shopper Jewell Shields, a
67-year-old resident of nearby Chesnee. "It's all right with me, as long as
they sound good."

Forty-two-year-old Mobin Sidik, who has lived in Spartanburg for the last
five years, said it would be a "good idea" for Romney to run for president
if residents of his home state believe he would be a good candidate.

"If people know him and they like him, then go ahead," he said. "I vote for
whoever has the most appeal."