Wednesday, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce released its endorsements for the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries. Sen. Vince Sheheen took the nod for the Democrats, which is not very surprising. With the exit of Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod and Columbia lobbyist Dwight Drake from the race, it’s not hard to figure out that Sheheen will best Supt. of Ed. Jim Rex and Sen. Robert Ford for the nomination.
The Republican endorsement went to U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett. Making a decision in that race is way more risky for anyone this far out from the primary. Barrett, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. André Bauer are in a three-way dogfight for the nomination, and it’s only going to get nastier as the months go on until June.
Wednesday afternoon, the Sheheen campaign launched a new Facebook effort: “Hey, folks — let’s beat Gresham Barrett to the 5,000 mark in FB fans! It would be great if you could click on ‘Suggest to Friends’ underneath the profile picture. Thanks!” That was followed by Barrett’s page responding with, “We’ve been challenged. The Sheheen campaign is trying to beat us to 5,000 fans. Help us get there first by clicking the ‘Suggest to Friends’ link under my picture.” Barrett made it first.
All of this is to say that it looks like the leading candidates for both nominations are already preparing to go at it. That means that the other guys — Rex, Ford, McMaster, Bauer — better step up their campaigns, or the general election campaign will start before the June primary showdown.
The joke around town after the Americans for Job Security ad against U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett came out was that the organization was really named, “Americans for Nikki Haley.” Guess it’s not so far-fetched. Per the petulant child, Haley consultant Jon Lerner was involved with the advertisement and Gov. Mark Sanford solicited donations to put it on the air.
That rumbling sound you heard emanating from Columbia on Friday was a collective expression of, “Pfft. No shit.” Nobody except for a reporter for The State would think that an ad like that would be regarding anything else beside the race for governor.
We don’t know if it ran statewide, but this morning there was an interesting ad running on Fox News in Columbia. While we were generally ignoring the television — background noise is a necessity for the Information Generation — suddenly the talk on the flickering screen commanded our attention.
It was an advertisement for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, one of the “big three” candidates for governor. It was responding to a statewide ad buy by the rather secretive “independent” group, Americans for Job Security. The ad talks about Barrett’s conservative leadership in the House, among other things.
Here’s the kicker, though — the ad was paid for by Barrett’s Congressional campaign. Or, that is, funds from that campaign account. Seems a little strange, but the AJS toady that was interviewed by the press said their ad was about his time in Congress, not his gubernatorial campaign, so hitting back with money from the Congressional account makes some sense.
Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like the gentleman who likes to roll over people’s feet got a little owned Monday evening through some Twitter exchanges. Couldn’t happen to a better fella.
GinaNSmith: Spent the day flying around S.C. w/ Gresham Barrett for a story. So windy that little plane was flying sideways! Glad 2 b back on ground!
PalmettoScoop: @GinaNSmith I’m sure you’ll straighten it all out in your “objective” story about @GreshamBarrett.
GinaNSmith: @PalmettoScoop excuse me?
SCSenatelawyer: @GinaNSmith didn’t get the memo? Unless you’re biased in our favor you’re not objective. :)
SCSenatelawyer: @SCSenatelawyer and I didn’t mean “our” as I’m a mcmaster guy
LoganJames: @GinaNSmith I’m also interested in his explanation. If you’re gonna take cheap shots, at least make them understandable :/
GinaNSmith: For the record, we’re writing profiles on each of the 10 gov candidates. Each candidate gets their own story. We’re hanging out w/ em all!
GinaNSmith: t fair reporting? Oh well. Thanks for letting me vent.
GinaNSmith: dSCSenatelawyer hi. Yeah. I find it hillarious when BLOGGERS who get paid under the table question our objectivity. What the heck do tho …
GinaNSmith: dSCSenatelawyer hi. What do those guys know about fair reporting? Oh well. Thanks for letting me vent.
wesleydonehue: @GinaNSmith you’re not direct tweeting him. you need a space between your d and “scsenatelawyer”
wesleydonehue: @PalmettoScoop You’d think that after @ginansmith’s ass kicking of Gov Sanford, you’d learn not to screw with her. I did.
scott_english: @wesleydonehue @GinaNSmith What Wes said. Also Ubertwitter is good.
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett maintained his fundraising edge over the Republican gubernatorial field by raising more than $379,000 during the last part of 2009. Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster kept up the pace, pulling in about $350,000. As the primary campaign heats up, the candidates with the largest warchests will be better positioned to do battle on the airwaves. As of Monday morning, reports for Lt. Gov. André Bauer, Rep. Nikki Haley and Sen. Larry Grooms were not available.
GRESHAM BARRETT
Candidate for Governor (R)
Contributions: $379,764.24
Expenditures: $207,369.89
Cash-on-hand: $1,508,443
Significant contributions
John Carter for Congress, $2,000
Congressional committee
Storm Chasers, $1,000
PAC of U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer
NRA Political Victory Fund, $1,000
Political action committee
Palmetto Freedom PAC, $2,000
PAC of U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett
Chris Chocola, $500
Club for Growth chairman
Pioneer PAC, $2,000
PAC of former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson
Voice for Freedom PAC, $1,000
PAC of U.S. Rep. Tom Price
Kevin Brady for Congress, $2,000
Congressional committee
Knox White, $1,000
Mayor of Greenville
Billy O’Dell, $500
State senator
Conservative Opportunity Leadership & Enterprise PAC, $2,000
PAC of U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
Robert Aderholt for Congress, $1,000
Congressional committee
Jo Bonner for Congress, $1,000
Congressional committee
Rogers for Congress, $1,000
Congressional committee
Jeff Flake for Congess, $1,000
Congressional committee
Friends of John Boehner, $3,500
Congressional committee
Mallory Factor Inc., $1,000
Conservative power player
Significant expenditures
Drea Byars (fundraising consulting), $6,000×3, $600.64, 927.02, $1,396.84
LDR Services (media production), $28,610.17
Starboard Communications (printing), $717.63, $1,409.71
First Tuesday Strategies (consulting), $5,000×2, $1,000
Olsen & Shuvalov (direct mail), $22,901.81
The Gula Graham Group (fundraising consulting), $7,921.04
Under the Power Lines (advertising), $8,900
On The Mark (advertising), $675
HENRY MCMASTER
Candidate for Governor (R)
Contributions: $350,828.53
Expenditures: $128,243.29
Cash-on-hand: $1,237,524.66
Significant contributions
Jack Van Loan, $50
Five Points Association
Travis Medlock, $500
Former state attorney general
Arthur Ravenel, $500
Former U.S. representative
Jim Hudson, $1,000
Car dealer
Kevin Hall, $3,500
Attorney
Tucker Bounds, $100
Consultant
Stephen Morrison, $3,500
Attorney
Robert Cahaly, $100
Consultant
Jon Huntsman, $3,500
U.S. ambassador to China
Significant expenditures
BMH Consulting (consulting), $1,464.45, $3,800×3, $279.06, $435.93, $10,737.49
Campaign Services (Web site), $839.83
The Phillips Group (fundraising), $12,070
Richard Quinn & Associates (consulting), $3,759.25, $30,535.60
It’s hard getting old, being old or just having strategies that are old. We don’t know if people are aware of this, but the year is 2009. There’s been half of a one-term presidency, two two-term presidencies and the beginning of a term for another guy in the White House since the Berlin Wall fell in 1990. There are people who can drink legally that never had a rotary phone in the house, or remember a time without cable television. Just a little perspective there.
Today, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett was stumping for governor in the Upstate with former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who is rumored to be a candidate for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. However you feel about the Pennsylvanian coming down to help, one might say that Barrett campaigning with him is a little forward-looking, considering that if Santorum runs, he’ll be going to plenty of small-town Palmetto State establishments like the rest of the field in two years. And, while that was announced and was going on, there was something else afoot. Something, ah, old.
Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster’s campaign is dipping into that well of the candidate with former President Ronald Reagan. They did it in the 2002 race against Steve Benjamin, and they’re doing it again. Like it’s somehow magical pixie dust that can be sprinkled over the Republican base.
If anybody understands irrational devotion to a long-gone figure, it’s us. But Alabama’s Bear Bryant, while revered by the Crimson Tide fan base, no longer matters like he used to. Before, if you didn’t play for Bear, or coach for Bear, you couldn’t be the head coach. Fortunately for Bama, the powers that be realized that winning was more important than a misguided loyalty to a departed legend.
In case you forgot, it’s been over 20 years since Reagan held office. It’s been over five years since he passed away. There are a ton of voters (who went for Democrats in the last election, by the way), whose first knowledge of a president is Bill Clinton. People on sports commentator Tony Kornheiser’s radio show often chide him for “trending old,” or at times, “trending dead.” But Mr. Tony isn’t planning on running for office anytime soon.
If McMaster wants to lose everybody from 18-28 in his bid for the state’s highest office, he’s doing a damn good job of it.
What the hell is going on with the campaign of Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster? His spokesman Rob Godfrey (a guy we actually think is an OK dude) ran some smack on U.S. Rep Gresham Barrett and Lt. Gov. André Bauer, which may have been a mistake. The most absurd bit is, “McMaster’s spokesman, equated the McMaster campaign’s plan not to use opposition research to running ‘a positive campaign.’” Eyes rolling SO HARD.
Gosh almighty, McMaster’s consultants have an in house blogger, for chrissakes. Oh, like Wheels Fogle isn’t going to be doing, and hasn’t already been doing, oppo on Barrett, Bauer, Haley and Grooms?
Somebody please tell the McMaster campaign to quit spewing ridiculous bullshit. It’s getting old.
The wonks at the Cook Political Report have gone to town with a new base polling system, the “partisan voting index.” It takes into account the last five presidential election cycles.
One is that Republicans have absolutely sucked — or shat the bed, or bollixed up the works, whatever your expression — in winning favorable districts. Democrats tend to be crowded together, in that the bluest districts are very blue, while Republicans are spread out. But, there are way more GOP-leaning districts. The disparity between the party in Congress and the district tendency is staggering.
U.S. House, by members
Democrat: 257
Republican: 178
U.S. House, by VPI
Democrat: 191
Republican: 234
Even: 9
That means a lot of Democrats are winning conservative districts. If the GOP wants to take back the House any time soon, it’s going to have to do something about that. It already lost one of the most reliable districts in the country in NY-23, and will almost certainly lose U.S. Rep. Joeseph Cao’s LA-2, which has a +25 Democratic VPI and went for President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. John Kerry by massive margins.
In South Carolina, the situation is only slightly different.
House districts, by GOP VPI
SC-03: Gresham Barrett (R), R+17
2004: Bush +32, 2008: McCain +29
SC-04: Bob Inglis (R), R+15
2004: Bush +31, 2008: McCain +23
SC-01: Henry Brown (R), R+10
2004: Bush +22, 2008: McCain +14
SC-02: Joe Wilson (R), R+9
2004: Bush +21, 2008: McCain +9
SC-05: John Spratt (D), R+7
2004: Bush +15, 2008: McCain +7
SC-06: Jim Clyburn (D), D+12
2004: Kerry +22, 2008: Obama +29
Some Democrats, like Spratt or U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas (R+20), are so entrenched that it would take the stars aligning for a Republican win. But, having such a large advantage in VPI but at a significant low in actual representation seems to show that the people behind the wheel haven’t been performing at a winning level in elephant land.
Last night’s gubernatorial debate between 10 — 10 — candidates was largely a genial affair in which the Democrats and Republicans were mixed with each other by alphabetical order. Because it was sponsored by an environmental organization, the questions centered around environmental protection and issues surrounding economic development, energy exploration and their impact on the flora and fauna, air and water of our state.
In truth, it was more fun to watch the unusual things. Like, say, Lt. Gov. André Bauer’s high-performing eyebrows. This is an old story, oft-told, but it’s just too damn entertaining. Years ago, we were hanging out at a bar where Liberty is now. It was back when, we believe, Bauer was still in the House. A gal from Carolina who did some work at the S.C. Democratic Party ran into Bauer there one night. She was tall, had red hair, always had the just-right clothes and makeup. From our perspective, she was pretty hot and the type of gal who had a penchant for older men. Anyway, they meet and start talking and hit it off, and he invited her to hang out on a boat on Lake Murray. Then, he kind of had a unibrow thing going on, and it tweaked her a little bit. The way she told the story, she went out to the boat with shaving cream and a razor, which was not received well. Ah, fun and games.
Somebody please head out to the store and pick up Sen. Robert Ford a neck. His head is sitting right there on his shoulders with nothing separating them. Where did the neck go? Is there a lost-and-found for body parts that just up and disappear? This sounds like it rises to the level of a full-blown legislative investigation. We just can’t keep allowing needed parts of our elected officials to go off on their own.
In an interesting occurrence, we switched Sen. Larry Grooms with U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, circa 2004. Let’s see if they notice! The end-of-debate push for text updates was simply classic. It eerily reminded us of Lieberman’s debate exhortations for watchers to go to joe2004.com. The man has Groomentum.
There was a second Folger’s slight-of-hand, in which we switched Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster with Colonel Sanders.
We’re wondering when the S.C. Policy Council is going to lay the wood to its friend, Rep. Nikki Haley, for saying that South Carolina needs to provide incentives to businesses. The leadership in the General Assembly did a pretty damn good job of putting together an incentive package to bring Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner production to the state, and the Policy Council went on a week-long wet blanket party afterward.
Also, cavemen, Aaron Eckhart and a few handsome gentlemen.
On a serious note, we were impressed with Dwight Drake’s performance. If he can challenge for the Democratic lead in the money race, he is going to be a real force. However, his continual references as a gubernatorial adviser is beginning to sound like former U.S. Sen. John Edwards’ “son of a mill worker” refrain.
Choice quotes from the night:
Ford: “We got the natural resources in South Carolina. That’s why I propose ‘South Carolina the Beautiful,’ which is a part of my platform, which would employ 100,000 new people in the largest film movie studio industry in the country.”
Ford: “Tell the members not to steal my idea, my ‘South Carolina the Beautiful’ theme.”
Moderator: “Is your idea for sale?”
Ford: “Probably not.”
McMaster: (pats McLeod on the back) “I’ve known Mullins for years. Excellent lawyer. Whole family of lawyers.”
Ford: “That’s why I introduced S. 42, which called for offshore drilling. I would like to remind the panel that in Louisiana, they have serious, serious hurricanes. In fact, during Katrina, the worst hurricane in American history, not one pelican was lost.”
Grooms: “I want to be the first governor to drill a hole.”
Tuesday night, 10 candidates, five from the Democrats, five from the Republicans, gathered for the first big gubernatorial debate of the 2010 election season. We watched it, but are going to go back through the recorded audio to see what were the most interesting parts of a mostly uninteresting debate. After all, for anyone who watched early-season presidential debates, when you have that many people on stage, it’s impossible to get the real give-and-take badassery we’ll end up seeing when both parties’ nomination battles go to runoffs next year.
With that being said, enjoy the tweets.
ChrisAllenSC: Robert Ford late for “prep” – just blew past me on 26 going at LEAST 15 over. (the 4 stickers & 2 magnets hlpd I.d.!)
JKuenzie: This debate is already producing some weird scenes. I’m watching Andre Bauer whispering into Dick Harpootlian’s ear.
JKuenzie: Introductions, photo op and now, makeup lady is on stage doing last minute touchups. Ford and Drake getting powder on their domes.
RobGodfrey: “The path to prosperity is lit with nuclear energy.” — @HenryMcMaster #sctweets
JKuenzie: Strangest answer so far: Ford suggests creation of “film movie industry” in SC as solution for global warming. http://myloc.me/1ka7q
ragley: Tweeting this SC governor debate kinda spoils the purpose of watching it, doesn’t it?
JKuenzie: Our lieutenant governor wants everybody to know he’s an energetic guy.
JKuenzie: Lot of discussion here about wind power. Rex says we should put turbine in front of stage.
JKuenzie: Ford says in Katrina, “not one pelican was lost.” Thus, SC should OK offshore drilling.
tylermjones: Gresham: “don’t take my word for it, take the heritage foundations word”…yeah, that’s what we’ll do.
lbstewart: I think Dwight Drake got a haircut just for tonight
tylermjones: Andre knocked the global warming question out of the park. So did dwight drake for that matter. Robert Ford dropped the ball with gibberish.
tylermjones: Larry Grooms denies global warming. I deny his candidacy.
tylermjones: Mullins McLeod is the wildcard in this race.
JKuenzie: Big winner in tonight’s SC gubernatorial debate: the wind.
RJShealy: Not at the debate. Hear it’s a decent one. Hoping someone askes Dwight Drake about spamming people.
Grooms4SCGov: Global Warming is NOT man made. The ground we’re standing on for this debate used to be under water.
tylermjones: Gresham Barrett talking like a DC politician, not a SC Governor.
tylermjones: Ok someone please kick Robert Ford off the stage.
RepBoydBrown: thank you Robert Ford for providing my nightly dose of comedy, your responses are priceless
lbstewart: Good grief Robert Ford wants SC to become Louisiana or something. #scdebate
Grooms4SCGov: We don’t need to be putting our people out of work and giving our jobs to other countries. Cap and trade will do that.
willmaxey: Mr. McLeod, any kind of speech trying to convince anyone of anything IS rhetoric
RepBoydBrown: “Don’t sue NC and GA every chance we get.” Check. Thanks for the heads up, Robert.
wesleydonehue: Having all the candidates on the same stage shows how laughable the SC Dem Party has become. All the GOP candidates are superior to theirs.
willmaxey: why won’t Barrett tell us HOW cap and trade would cost 14K jobs instead of parroting Heritage Foundation stats
mattheusmei: Man, Henry’s looking old — he’s come a long way from telling HS Jrs “Cold Beer and Beautiful Women are what the Republican Party are for”
lbstewart: @wesleydonehue that’s a pretty bold statement. What’s your reasoning all GOP candidates superior to Dems? Other than own ideology of course
RepBoydBrown: @wesleydonehue (forget Ford is on stage), Dems are offering solutions, GOP reeling off talking points.
wesleydonehue: @lbstewart Are you watching this debate?
mattheusmei: @wesleydonehue — really, that’s like saying “mine is bigger than yours” . They all look like jokes to me.
tylermjones: Wow. Nikki Haley sounding pretty impressive on DHEC. Ahh, but then Mullins brings it back to reality and knocks it out of the park again.
JustinBradley: @Grooms4SCGov Why aren’t you using the hash tag that your candidate encouraged everyone to use? #scdebate
tylermjones: So far – winner of this debate is Mullins McLeod by a long shot. Hes removing rhetoric and offering common sense solutions. Its refreshing
lbstewart: Robert Ford is apparently ready to revitalize and memorialize the Antebellum South thru his moviemaking plan. #scdebate. Embarrassed
wexler: @wesleydonehue Y’all said the same thing in ‘06 and look where it got South Carolina.
tylermjones: Gresham Barrett sounding most sane out of all of the GOP candidates. But that’s not saying much. Grooms sounds (and looks) like Glenn Beck.
willmaxey: @tylermjones he is also repeating his tired “get rid of politics and rhetoric” bit every turn…while using rhetoric to convince us of this
willmaxey: @tylermjones but he made a great point about appointing a professional to head up DHEC!
wesleydonehue: @wexler Looks like people are eating what the GOP is cooking. Aren’t you in Virginia?
RepBoydBrown: does Henry practice that accent in the mirror?
wexler: @wesleydonehue Nope, I’m safe and sound in DC. Obama won my ward with 82% last year.
lbstewart: Will Robert Ford hire me at his new film studio? #scdebate
RepBoydBrown: Need to keep a bottle of aspirin on hand next time I listen to Gresham Barrett
RJShealy: hear Robert Ford is winning the debate
tylermjones: I think Andre just said (in a roundabout way) that children are a burden on our educational system. Odd.
lbstewart: Gresham B seemed to get a giggly kick out of Andre’s comment that he can help him in the Bauer administration #scdebate
lbstewart: Larry is getting quite…emotional…
tylermjones: Ok so Larry Grooms just went all howard dean on us.
RepBoydBrown: God Bless Robert Ford, the self-proclaimed “greatest senator in American history”
JustinBradley: Very interesting, but good debate between the candidates for SC Governor. #sctweets
willmaxey: for having 5 GOP candidates and 5 Democratic, that debate was incredibly civil
