More Need, Less Help

"I really hate telling people, no, we can't assist them," Cresswell said. "It hurts. It hurts not only the person who needs the help, but it hurts the person who has to tell them, 'No, we don't have the funding to help you.' "

The strains on the new poor, as well as the conservatism of the political culture within the state government, are well known to one of South Carolina's most influential voices in Washington, Rep. James E. Clyburn (D), the third-ranking member of the House. Anticipating that Sanford would oppose stimulus money, Clyburn did an end-run around the governor: He worked into the stimulus package a provision that allows a state legislature to accept the federal money if a governor rejects it.