By Dan McCue

MYRTLE BEACH -- Former President Bill Clinton will make his first foray onto the South Carolina presidential campaign trail this year with an address this afternoon to the National Baptist Convention of America Inc. in Myrtle Beach.

Clinton, visiting the Palmetto State in support of his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House, will speak at about 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center, located at 2101 North Oak St.

Zac Wright, South Carolina spokesman for the Clinton campaign, said last night that he hadn't been apprised of the content of the former president's remarks.

However, the political nature of the Clinton's appearance will be underscored by the presence of Bob J. Nash, who is deputy national campaign manager of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Nash has worked on all of Bill and Hillary Clinton's campaigns beginning with the former president's campaign for Arkansas' Attorney General in 1977.

President Clinton later rewarded his loyalty with four presidential appointments, including White House director of presidential personnel, under secretary at the Department of Agriculture, chairman of the Rural Telephone Bank board and member of the Federal Commodities Credit Corp. 

After leaving office, President Clinton named Nash to the Clinton/Bush Katrina Fund board and to the board of the Clinton School of Public Policy in Little Rock, Ark.