OHIO Kerry set to attend black church service

The bishop of the church says Kerry is to worship, not speak at the service.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- For Democrat John Kerry's 10th Ohio visit this year, he's chosen a time-honored practice for politicians -- worshipping with a predominantly black congregation on Sunday morning.
Kerry, a Roman Catholic, will be the guest of Bishop Timothy Clarke at his First Church of God on the city's south side. For years, the Rev. Mr. Clarke has been a political conduit to Columbus' black community. About 25 percent of Columbus' 725,000 residents are black.
Kerry will attend but not speak at the service, Mr. Clarke said Friday. His campaign set up the visit through Mayor Michael Coleman, Columbus' first black mayor and a close friend of Mr. Clarke's.
"His office called and said he'd be in town and worship with us," Mr. Clarke said. "What was told to me was that he was not asking to speak, he was just coming to worship and not be obtrusive."
There is no better way to reach black voters, Mr. Clarke said.
"The African-American church is still the focal point of our community. There still is a gathering in on Sunday morning, more than at any other place. They do it every week," Mr. Clarke said.
Kerry will begin his Columbus visit at Mr. Clarke's church, then head to a neighborhood on the city's northeast side for a "front-porch" discussion of the economy and other issues. It's similar to meetings he's held in other states, said Brendon Cull, the campaign's Democratic Party coordinator in Ohio.
"John Kerry is a man of faith," Cull said. "He thought it would be appropriate to worship at this church."
Visits to predominantly black churches are rituals for virtually all statewide and national candidates. Both Kerry and President Bush have visited black churches during the current campaign. Republican Gov. Bob Taft visited churches in Youngstown, Cleveland and Columbus during his 1998 and 2002 campaigns.
The tradition began in the South, but it is popular elsewhere, Mr. Clarke said. After church, Kerry heads to Columbus election Ward 62, a blue-collar neighborhood where Bush defeated Gore by 12 votes out of 4,806 cast in 2000.