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South Carolina’s neediest

As South Carolina prepares to hold its Republican primary, the economically depressed state already has revealed a definitive issue of the 2012 presidential campaign: How can government best serve a record number of jobless and poor?

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Jan. 16, 2012

Steven Murdock, 39, from Conway, S.C., is photographed at his home. Murdock is jobless and has been looking for work for the past year. He says he applied for 60 jobs in the past year, sold his lawn mower, car, guns and tools, and has become a regular at Conway’s day labor centers.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Steven Murdock, 39, walks to his neighbor's house to rake leaves, one of the many odd jobs he looks for in order to earn money to survive. As the Republican primary approaches in the economically depressed state, the state’s neediest have a choice between two ideologies: President Obama believes people like Murdock are entitled to government help during a time of extreme hardship, no matter the cost. The Republican vision believes a government burdened by debt must encourage self-sufficiency, even when it seems harsh.

Jan. 16, 2012

Steven Murdock, 39, walks to his neighbor's house to rake leaves, one of the many odd jobs he looks for in order to earn money to survive. As the Republican primary approaches in the economically depressed state, the state’s neediest have a choice between two ideologies: President Obama believes people like Murdock are entitled to government help during a time of extreme hardship, no matter the cost. The Republican vision believes a government burdened by debt must encourage self-sufficiency, even when it seems harsh.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Steven Murdock, 39, scavenges for cans to trade in for cash. Murdock thought he could get a job after losing his $11-an-hour construction job, but now has turned to calling neighbors in hopes they have odd jobs for him to do for cash.

Jan. 16, 2012

Steven Murdock, 39, scavenges for cans to trade in for cash. Murdock thought he could get a job after losing his $11-an-hour construction job, but now has turned to calling neighbors in hopes they have odd jobs for him to do for cash.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Steven Murdock gives his mother, Kitty Murdock, a hug in between raking at her home in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The mother and son, who are both out of work and looking for jobs, have been supportive of each other.

Jan. 17, 2012

Steven Murdock gives his mother, Kitty Murdock, a hug in between raking at her home in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The mother and son, who are both out of work and looking for jobs, have been supportive of each other.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

In exchange for mowing the lawn and raking leaves, Steven Murdock does his laundry at his mother’s home in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Both mother and son are jobless.

Jan. 17, 2012

In exchange for mowing the lawn and raking leaves, Steven Murdock does his laundry at his mother’s home in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Both mother and son are jobless.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Kitty Murdock spools her yarn at the home she shares with her significant other, Philip, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Jan. 16, 2012

Kitty Murdock spools her yarn at the home she shares with her significant other, Philip, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Steven Murdock takes a breather between raking in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Scavenging for scrap metal and yard work has helped him to scrape together some money to survive.

Jan. 17, 2012

Steven Murdock takes a breather between raking in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Scavenging for scrap metal and yard work has helped him to scrape together some money to survive.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Kitty Murdock peers out the window as her son, Steven Murdock, mows the lawn in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Jan. 17, 2012

Kitty Murdock peers out the window as her son, Steven Murdock, mows the lawn in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

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