Several of the candidates for the SC-03 race have their reports online this weekend. Lots of loans. We’re figuring the loans are to allow the candidates to spend like they want to, right out of the gate, then pay off the debt when the money starts rolling in soon.
SHANE MASSEY
Republican
Contributions: $845.60
Expenditures: $10,117.29
Cash-on-hand: $102,093.62
(Loan: $72,000)
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
Donehue Agency (printing/postage), $4,505.70
On The Mark (lapel stickers), $200
RICHARD CASH
Republican
Contributions: $20,231.99
Expenditures: $22,898.15
Cash-on-hand: $11,950.19
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
Trail Blazer Campaign Services (software), $622.92×3
REX RICE
Republican
Contributions: $45,067
Expenditures: $50,237.23
Cash-on-hand: $54,059.51
(Loan: $25,000)
Significant contributions
Bruce Bannister, $1,000
State representative
William Webster IV, $1,000
Advance America
Huck PAC, $1,000
PAC of former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee
Significant expenditures
Gadsden & Greene Strategies (consulting), $5,000×3
Richard Quinn & Associates (fundraising, printing), $9,000, $4,500, $6,694.78
MIKE VASOVSKI
Republican
Contributions: $12,422.76
Expenditures: $9,965.55
Cash-on-hand: $11,354.01
(Debt: $9,243.41)
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
None.
JANE DYER
Democrat
Contributions: $21,266.34
Expenditures: $20,357.29
Cash-on-hand: $11,689.56
(Loan: $9,200)
Significant contributions
Mike McCurry, $1,000
Former Clinton press secretary
Citizens United for South Carolina, $500
Group formed by former S.C. Democratic Party chairman Joe Erwin
Significant expenditures
None.
UPDATE: Jeff Duncan filed.
JEFF DUNCAN
Republican
Contributions: $28,915
Expenditures: $19,116.51
Cash-on-hand: $49,414.11
(Loan: $10,000)
Significant contributions
Tom Deloach, $500
S.C. BIPEC
National Auctioneers PAC, $2,500
Political action committee
Significant expenditures
Clarkson Smith Consulting (fundraising), $717.33, $1,387
Peacecraft Strategies (consulting), $7,500
WW Consulting (consulting), $7,500
That was unexpected. The S.C. Democratic Party is being sued by SC-03 candidate Brian “Ryan B” Doyle over alleged slights and improprieties. His attorney uses some stronger language, indicating lying by party officials and illegal actions. What stands out are a few things.
One is the inclusion of an unnamed defendant, a “State Representative John Doe.” If you’re unfamiliar with Democratic politics in Aiken County over the past few years, it’s pretty plain that John Doe is really Rep. Bill Clyburn. This is an outgrowth of earlier issues down there. Some things went down in the Senate District 25 primary last year when Doyle went on the radio supporting Travis Johnson, who was challenging Greg Anderson for the nomination. That started a mess of allegations. We think that Sen. Shane Massey didn’t need the Democratic inside baseball to win the general election over Anderson, but whatever.
The thought seems to be a combination of racial politics and retribution for the ‘08 shenanigans led to the state party to delay putting his name up on the site next to Jane Dyer’s, and refusal to share the SC-03 voter file. We’re not sure what motive the party would have to not share the voter file, unless it was simple inertia or the allegations contain some measure of truth.
The other interesting thing is an outright indictment of the SCDP as it comes to minority candidates. The complaint says that the state power structure, including the SCDP, is only interested in minority candidates if those candidates buy in to the establishment interest of “money and power” versus the everyday voter.
Regardless of the veracity of the claims, it makes for a damn interesting read.
Doyle v. The South Carolina Democratic Party, et. al.
(It was sent out upside down, so just rotate it in your PDF program of choice.)
The race to replace U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett in the Third District claimed one of its first victims on Friday when attorney James Galyean dropped his bid for the seat. Galyean had been special counsel for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and joined Nexsen Pruet last year. He said that he is leaving the race because of an unexplained severe chest pain that started in mid-December.
Last Friday, I met with my doctor who advised that, after discussing the myriad demands on my time as a father of three with a full-time legal practice and a congressional race, I should view this as a “wake up call.” Based on that discussion, and after much thought and prayer, I determined that it would be in my best interests to reduce my commitments. I do not want to ignore this advice and end up in a very serious condition in a few years. Moreover, as a husband and a father, it would not be responsible for me to not safeguard my family’s future as much as possible.
So, today, I regrettably announce that I am withdrawing from the race for the 3rd Congressional District.
This has been a very difficult decision. While campaigning for office is extremely challenging, I have greatly enjoyed traveling the district and meeting new friends in every county. I was very much looking forward to the rest of the campaign and the chance to serve. I am appalled at what is being done to our country by the current leadership in Washington. I am committed to fighting the radical agenda and irresponsible spending of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Reid however possible. I just cannot continue to do so as a candidate for Congress.
His decision still leaves the Republican primary field as a crowded affair. Running for the GOP nomination are Sen. Shane Massey, Rep. Jeff Duncan, Rep. Rex Rice, Richard Cash, Mike Vasovski and Neal Collins.
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.
With seven Republican candidates jockeying to replace U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett in the Third District, there’s definitely some parity when it comes to fundraising and cash-on-hand. However, several candidates are burning through their cash, and it’s pretty early in the cycle.
Rep. Rex Rice, who is second in cash, spent over $10,000 more than he raised this quarter. Rep. Jeff Duncan, who’s in third, topped $21,000 in disbursements. The vast majority of the money went to campaign consultants. Rice paid firms of operative Robert Cahaly $14,404.63, while throwing $27,471.64 toward entities of Richard Quinn & Associates. Duncan gave Allen Klump’s Peacecraft Strategies $8,000 and $5,000 to WW Consulting.
For these reasons, Sen. Shane Massey leads the field, winning the award for campaign fiscal restraint. He only spent $8,028.59, leaving him with the most cash-on-hand going into the fourth quarter on 2009.
Sen. Shane Massey
Contributions: $23,221
Expenditures: $8,028.59
Cash-on-Hand: $39,365.31
Rep. Rex Rice
Contributions: $45,068.05
Expenditures: $58,499.56
Cash-on-Hand: $33,928.26
Rep. Jeff Duncan
Contributions: $37,136.25
Expenditures: $21,733.08
Cash-on-Hand: $29,615.62
James Galyean
Contributions: $40,462.58
Expenditures: $42,929.85
Cash-on-Hand: $22,618.39
Richard Cash
Contributions: $21,449.91
Expenditures: $17,154.95
Cash-on-Hand: $14,266.35
Mike Vasovski
Contributions: $6,777
Expenditures: $9,522.95
Cash-on-Hand: $8,896.80
Neal Collins
Contributions: $5,519
Expenditures: $5,513.17
Cash-on-Hand: $5,385.83
Pickens County Councilman and former NFL head coach Sam Wyche is considering a run for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett’s open Third District seat. He would join a field that looked like it would end up as a face-off between Sen. Shane Massey and Rep. Rex Rice.
In an interview with Politico, Wyche said, “I’ve had a number of people ask me to consider it, which is very flattering. I just now need to see if I’m the right guy for the job. I’ve got some name recognition, being a football coach, and football’s really popular here in the Southeast.”
In addition to his recent election to the county council, Wyche has stayed active in football by working as the offensive coordinator for Pickens High School and being a public speaker.
If Wyche is going to make a serious run, he would have to get on the fundraising rather quick. He’s already closed out his campaign account from last year, so he’d be starting from zero, while the other candidates have been bringing in money for some time.
Cue the scramble. As elected officials vacate their seats to run for higher office, each seat down the ballot begins to fall like a domino. With U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett announcing that he will run for governor, State Sen. Shane Massey of Edgefield sent out a news release today declaring his intention to run for Barrett’s seat in the Third Congressional District.
“There comes a point when a person has to stop saying ‘someone should do something about this’ and actually step up to be that ‘someone,’” Massey said in a statement, referring to the recent federal stimulus legislation. “Folks, I’m just not willing to sit on the sidelines while Congressional politicians continue their spending spree and put us in more debt to foreign countries like China. The stakes are too high to sit around and ‘hope’ things will get better.
“After a great deal of encouragement from many of you, a lot of conversations with my wife Blair, and a good bit of prayer, I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Congress.”
The mailer that contains his announcement message goes on to say that Massey feels the need to stand up to the White House, Democratic leaders in the Congress and even some Republican congressmen for facilitating what he calls “the pork barrel spending that has run rampant in Congress over recent years.”
In January, Massey was the subject of one of WR’s “Anatomy of a Win” analyses. Running in a conservative, but Democratic, district, he beat popular Rep. Bill Clyburn in a special election and then fended off another Edgefield resident, Greg Anderson, in the general election last year.
So far, Massey is the first candidate to file for SC-03.
Shane Massey for Congress mailer (front)
Shane Massey for Congress mailer (back)
