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 McMaster for Governor campaign — a comedy of errors. Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster has flubbed one issue after another in his run for governor, and can’t seem to stop himself from doing it again. Either his political instincts disappeared overnight a few months ago, or his advisers are giving some really wretched advice. McMaster’s latest political impression of Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford is yet another example.

For a while, the General Assembly has struggled to pass a tax increase on cigarettes that would bring South Carolina up to the national average. It’s not an unreasonable policy. Even though we fell victim to Demon Nicotine, ciggies will kill you. Heart disease, lung cancer, you name it. Increasing the cigarette tax just seems like the soundest idea coming out of the intersection of Main and Gervais in some time.

This year, it really could happen. In a story in The Independent-Mail, Sen. Thomas Alexander said a bill to put South Carolina on par with other states is on pace to be fast-tracked. That’s good news for raising cigarettes to a price point to where people will quit, and help pay for the health care costs that come from long-term smoking that the state has to deal with.

But don’t tell McMaster it’s a good idea. We have this image in our head of him reading that story and letting out a Colbert-esque, “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Because, God forbid we raise taxes on anything, especially something that will kill you and drains the state coffers.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, spurred by a weekend of back-and-forth discussion on the issue with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex, said Monday he would not support raising the tax, spokesman Rob Godfrey said.

[...]

About three-quarters of state residents support raising the tax to $1 a pack, from its current 7 cents a pack, according to a 2008 survey by the Republican-leaning polling firm Public Opinion Strategies. The poll was conducted for the S.C. Tobacco Collaborative, a coalition of nonprofit and public health groups that support raising the cigarette tax to cut smoking rates.

[...]

“Henry McMaster is not raising taxes under any circumstances,” Godfrey said, noting McMaster had signed a national anti-tax pledge. “It’s a good way to make a bad economy worse.”

If the Attorney General appeared on “Car Talk,” one of the Magliozzi brothers would be giving him a dope slap. Hey — there’s a difference between being for cutting taxes and small government, and being so foolish as to think keeping cigs as cheap as possible is actually smart thinking.

And while we’re not always on point with former The State editorial page editor Brad Warthen (his ambivalence toward football can’t be processed over here), he nailed the hell out of this insanity today, writing:

So basically, Henry is trying to out-wingnut the others in his party, to establish himself as SO anti-tax that he won’t, under any circumstances, raise the one tax that three-quarters of the state’s voters say should have been raised to the national average years ago.

That is sufficiently extreme to remove Henry from the ranks of people who deserve to be governor. As you know, some time ago I completely lost patience with people who didn’t want to raise the tax to the national average. To oppose raising it at all is just… indefensible.

Warthen goes on to say it has nothing to do with Supt. of Ed. Jim Rex and Rex’s announcement of his support for raising the tax. True enough. And McMaster just gave his opponents a massive club with which to beat him with from here on out.

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.

Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, who has made a big deal about U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s closed door negotiations to get the health care bill passed, apparently is only against closed door meetings that don’t involve him. The “water war” suit involving North Carolina has been a bit of a bullshit move. After all, the only things that he’s been involved with are misbegotten suits that he thinks will help him in the race for governor. McMaster’s made a big deal about discussions being out in the open. Some seem to be more important than others.

North Carolina’s top attorney has rejected a call by his South Carolina counterpart to hold closed-door talks to settle a disputes over waterways that flow through the two states.

Attorney General Roy Cooper said in a letter released Friday that he wants the discussions in a commission appointed by both states to be open for public input. South Carolina’s top attorney, Henry McMaster, had suggested in a December letter to Cooper that the discussions be confidential.

Lordy. How can anybody feel fine with supporting McMaster, when he keeps egregiously fucking up? Either he has no decent political instincts, or his advisers are dumber than a sack of bricks.

Today, a goodly amount of gubernatorial candidates showed up at the S.C. BIPEC reception to debate policy. It turns out, though, if you’re with Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, it’s considered official state business.

The sticker

The “official pass”

So, when did a political event become official business? When Henry Mac says it does, we suppose.

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

There’s been much hullabaloo over recent days involving Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and yet another of his Quixotic quests — to investigate the dealings between U.S. Sens. Harry Reid and Ben Nelson involving a deal to get the Senate Democats’ health care bill passed. We’re not saying that it didn’t look shady, but shady deals in the furtherance of passing legislation is just a part of doing business, no matter which party to which you belong.

And here’s the thing — it’s a national effort. Against machinations in Congress. If the deal, and the one involving U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, are to be investigated, shouldn’t it be by elected officials in Congress? Or someone involved in Federal-level law enforcement? What exactly does the chief law enforcement officer of our state have to do with Federal legislation, and what generates that legislation? Moreover, why the hell is he wasting his time on this matter?

Yeah, we know it’s mind-boggling, but it’s just another campaign ploy on the road to the S.C. Republican gubernatorial primary. Like the poker idiocy and the Craigslist debacle before it. We’d still like to see an all-out action to curb crack use, which hits the least fortunate members of society and drives up crimes like theft, robbery and burglary, among others. But that wouldn’t raise favorability ratings among the GOP base, so it’s left to local officials and cash-strapped agencies.

Seriously, while this mess is going down, McMaster has had an ethics report on actual misdeeds by a state official — that would be our illustrious Governor — on his desk for months. That’s something he can actually do something about. Too bad any sort of investigation is continually put off by these grandstanding stunts.

Drop those cards, dog! According to Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, these friendly canines would be breaking the law in South Carolina. Because, apparently, having a few guys over to the house for a low-stakes game of Hold ‘em is a pressing issue for the gubernatorial candidate.

In an appeal this week, the office says Circuit Judge Markley Dennis went too far when he overturned the gambling convictions of five Mount Pleasant card players this fall.

“One obvious reason that ‘chance’ need not be determined with respect to a particular game for purpose of the gambling statute, is that the Legislature sought to ban all ‘gaming’ for stakes at designated locations,” the filing said.

“In other words, in the General Assembly’s view, the ills resulting from games played for money does not depend upon the particular game or the nature in which it was played.”

The statements were part of a 57-page filing sent to the state Supreme Court. Because the case addresses a constitutional matter covering gambling, the state’s appeal went directly to the high court, skipping the S.C. Court of Appeals.

In September, Dennis threw out the convictions of five poker players busted by Mount Pleasant police, saying playing Hold ‘em in a private residence does not violate the state’s anti-gambling laws.

Yes, so next week when we will probably lose $20 in a game with some other of the city’s good-time Johnnys, we’ll be committing a crime of statewide importance. It’s great that McMaster, as the state’s top law enforcement official, is using his and his office’s precious time to make sure a small group of people can’t get together to play cards for a few bucks.

If U.S. Sen. John McCain was an LOLcat, his picture would say, “I can has irony?” The man who tubthumped all during the 2000 Republican primary race for campaign finance reform seems to have violated the law he co-wrote with U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold several years ago. Yeah, color us surprised that an easily-figured out mistake was overlooked by McCain and his guy in South Carolina, gubernatorial candidate and Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster. It’s like that sort of thing happens all the time.

Notice, in the letter McCain sent to raise money for Henry Mac, he failed to include a main part of his legislation.

My Friend,

South Carolina occupies a special place in my heart. I will always be grateful to you for your willingness to stand by my side during our campaign to defend the greatness of America.

Our South Carolina primary victory made it possible for me to make our case to the nation. And while we fell short in November, I believe today there is a rising tide of determination across this nation to return to the cause of freedom. I know that you and others in South Carolina are ready to rise to meet that challenge.

As you know, there is a movement afoot by the defenders of big government to take over health care, to raise our taxes, re-distribute wealth and place staggering debt on the shoulders of future generations.

There has never been a time in our history when it was more important than it is today to elect leaders with integrity, experience, good judgment and solid conservative principles.

You have such a leader in Henry McMaster, who, as you know, is now running for Governor of South Carolina.

I have known Henry for over a decade. He was the very first person Ronald Reagan selected to serve as U.S. Attorney. And for the past seven years, as your Attorney General, Henry has set an example for the nation on how a dedicated champion for conservative government can make a tremendous difference in the lives of citizens.

Henry McMaster truly has earned a national reputation for his effective crackdown on domestic violence, internet predators, polluters and white collar criminals who ruin lives and exploit the innocent. Henry has always been faithful to the core conservative values we share.

I was honored to have Henry serve as my statewide co-chairman in South Carolina. I know he is the right candidate to control excessive spending, create the jobs so badly needed during these difficult economic times and put South Carolina on the path to prosperity. I also know from personal experience that Henry is a man of tremendous personal integrity and dedication to service.

Please join me today in providing support to Henry’s campaign for Governor.

While he has an excellent opportunity to win this important election, victory in a statewide campaign is incredibly expensive. I am asking you to consider sending Henry a contribution as soon as possible to help him carry his message to the voters of South Carolina.

I know you are getting dozens of letters and calls with requests from various candidates for donations. But no race on the ballot this year in South Carolina has the potential of making such an important and positive impact on the future of your state.

Henry McMaster is the right candidate for Governor.

I urge you to help him, work for him, contribute to him and get actively involved as soon as possible. For the future of South Carolina and the cause of conservative government, I know you will be glad you did.

Thank you for your consideration. And most of all, thank you again for the trust and support you placed in me. I will always be grateful for your friendship. Best wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Sincerely,
John McCain

Funny, the letter doesn’t include this statement, “I am not asking for funds from corporations, labor organizations, or other Federally prohibited sources.” That’s a part — specifically, 2 U.S.C. 441i(e)(1)(b); 11 CFR 33.62 — of the law that McCain authored that he apparently doesn’t think applies when it comes to (ahem) his “friends.”

So, when is McMaster going to talk to his bud, or refund the money raised by this illegal fundraising letter?

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.