Rasmussen has a new poll out that shows the three remaining Democratic candidates for governor are neck and neck heading into the June primary:
Robert Ford - 12%
Jim Rex - 16%
Vincent Sheheen - 16%
Some other candidate - 15%
Not sure - 37% MoE +/- 5%
Similar to recent polls by PPP and Winthrop, today's Rasmussen numbers suggest Ford, Rex, and Sheheen remain largely unknown to voters across the Palmetto State. With less than three months to go before voters head to the polls, there's still no clear front-runner in the Democratic gubernatorial race.
Looking ahead, it's likely that the candidates' fundraising numbers will serve as a better indicator of strength as primary day approaches. With all three men struggling with low statewide name recognition, the primary victor will be the candidate who not only develops a memorable message, but also the guy who can afford to buy the most ad time to reach blue voters in the weeks leading up to June 8.
"Today I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the campaign for South Carolina Governor," Drake said in a statement.
"I got into this race because I believed that South Carolina's families deserved much more than they were getting from their Governor. We are facing the toughest times in a generation, and we can only take that on with dedicated, experienced leadership that is focused on putting our people back to work and building a better future for our kids. I have ambitious ideas for getting our state back on track, and I have the knowledge and experience to put those ideas into action.
"But a statewide campaign for office is not just about these things. It also requires resources - campaign dollars to run in a competitive primary and in a competitive general election.
"I am deeply grateful for - and humbled by - the support I have received from my fellow South Carolinians in the seven months since I began my campaign. As I have put pen to paper in recent days, it's become clear to me that I am not going to be able to marshal the resources needed to run the competitive, substantive campaign that I set out to run."
The Columbia attorney and lobbyist's departure from the race essentially leaves the Democratic gubernatorial contest a head-to-head match up between State Superintendent Jim Rex and State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden). State Senator Robert Ford (D-Charleston) is also running, though he currently lacks the statewide name recognition Rex enjoys or the financial resources of Sheheen, who is currently leading the money race on the Dem side.
The three remaining candidates will face off in the Democratic Primary on June 8.
Today Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) announced endorsements from 40 of his peers in the General Assembly.
"I'm grateful to my friends and colleagues in the legislature for standing with me and supporting me today," said Sheheen. "As governor, I'll work with them to tackle the many challenges facing our state."
Sheheen's announcement comes days after one of his primary rivals, Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, unveiled his own impressive list of high profile supporters from the state's education community. With less than 100 days to go before SC Democrats head to the polls, both campaigns appear to be turning to their natural bases to pump up support for their guy on primary day.
Below is the long list of legislators endorsing Sheheen today:
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dwight Drake has picked up a big endorsement from one of South Carolina's longest-serving mayors.
Columbia Mayor Bob Coble announced Monday he's backing Drake in this year's governor's race.
"Today I am happy to announce my support and endorsement of Dwight Drake, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor," said Mayor Coble. "As a resident of Columbia for forty years, Dwight understands the challenges facing the midlands, and his experience working for Governors John West and Dick Riley makes Dwight the only candidate who can do the job of Governor from Day One. The challenges we face demand that we have a Governor who needs no on-the-job training, and I am proud to endorse and support Dwight Drake as that candidate."
Drake, a Columbia attorney and lobbyist, is facing a fierce five-way primary race this June. Also competing for the Democratic nomination (and the endorsements) are State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, Camden Sen. Vincent Sheheen, Charleston Sen. Robert Ford, and Lowcountry attorney Mullins McLeod.
Thoughts on the significance of Coble's endorsement?
Paul Thurmond, son of legendary U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, announced Wednesday he will seek the Republican nomination in South Carolina's First District race.
In an email sent to supporters, Thurmond laid out a rather populist sounding platform centered around cutting taxes and running against the status quo in D.C.
“We have serious problems facing our country — too many people are without jobs, out of control federal spending, a Democratic Congress bent on destroying our health care system while eliminating benefits to our senior citizens, rising taxes, and an Administration that seems to think that apologizing for America’s actions is good foreign policy,” said Thurmond.
Thurmond initially decided against challenging incumbent Henry Brown last fall, but the Congressman's retirement announcement earlier this month prompted the Charleston County Councilman to reconsider his plans.
The GOP race for the SC-01 seat now will be a battle between Palmetto political dynasties. Thurmond will square off against Carroll "Tumpy" Campbell (son of popular former Gov. Campbell) in the June primary. Also in the running, Isle of Palms Councilman Ryan Buckhannon and perineal candidate Katherine Jenerette. However, the Republican field will likely continue to grow as several other S.C. politicians have expressed interest in vying for the open seat.
For Democrats, support seems to be building for Air Force Col. Robert Burton of Mount Pleasant. Last week Burton received a nod from top recruit and '08 Dem nominee Linda Ketner, who has decided not to run again this year. Burton will face Georgetown businessman Robert Dobbs and retired Naval officer Dick Withington of Pawleys Island in the June Democratic Primary.
Charleston attorney Ashley Cooper will enter the race for South Carolina lieutenant governor on Wednesday, sources tell Indigo Journal.
Cooper will announce his intention to seek the Democratic nomination via web video on his new campaign website, CooperforSC.com.
The Lowcountry native is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Charleston and a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and Clemson University. A married father of two, Cooper formerly served as legislative director for Democratic U.S. Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings.
Cooper is the first Democrat to enter the lieutenant governor's race. Republicans seeking the number two job include Florence County Councilman Ken Ard, retired Army Lt. Col. Bill Connor, and state Rep. Tim Scott.
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex finally turned in his campaign disclosure report today and let's just say, it's not good news for South Carolina's only statewide-elected Democrat. Rex had the dubious distinction of being the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate to spend more money than he brought in, finishing last place behind Senator Robert Ford in total cash on hand. Below is a full rundown on the Democratic candidates' fourth quarter fundraising efforts.
Vincent Sheheen: Contributions: $222,673
Expenditures: $100,919
Cash on Hand: $749,029
Burn Rate: 45%
The State Senator from Camden was the first Democrat to jump into the 2010 field, giving him an early advantage in the money race. Sheheen's first staff hire was Dem Money Honey Ashley Medbery, who quickly made fundraising the campaign's top priority. In the fourth quarter, the campaign began investing in outside help, spending $10k on the fundraising firm Blanton & Associates and $16k on marketing with BANCO/Bannister Company. Now eleven months since launching his exploratory committee, Team Sheheen has consistently finished first in the Democratic money race each quarter and enjoys the largest campaign war chest heading into this spring's crowded primary.
State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) landed a major endorsement in his race for governor Wednesday.
Standinding outside the historic William Aiken House in downtown Charleston, Mayor Joseph P. Riley announced he plans to back Sheheen for governor.
“Vincent Sheheen is the kind of dynamic leader we need to get our state back on the right track," said Riley. "He understands the issues that matter in Charleston and all across South Carolina and knows how to bring people together, regardless of political party, to solve problems and move our state forward.”
Riley's endorsement is a big get for the Camden Democrat who has been working hard to raise his profile outside the Midlands. And landing the endorsement of the popular nine-term Charleston Mayor should go a long way in helping Sheheen increase his name recognition across the Lowcountry.
In her usual, gracious and intelligent way, Linda Ketner informed her supporters by email this morning that she does not plan to run for the SC First Congressional District to be vacated by incumbent Republican Henry Brown at the end of his current term. Ketner does plan to remain active in community work and political life in the Lowcountry.
Her email reads:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
I am deeply appreciative of all the encouragement I’ve received from hundreds of you since Congressman Brown’s resignation. Because we have been partners in building a better South Carolina, I wanted you to be the first to know that I will not be running for Congress in 2010. Personally and professionally, 2010 is not the time for me to mount a campaign.
Although I’m not endorsing anyone until I see each candidate's thinking as regards how to make government work again, I ask my supporters to take a close look at Colonel Robert Burton. He and I met over 10 years ago and worked together on affordable housing initiatives in South Carolina. I find him to be a man of integrity, service and leadership and will study his candidacy carefully.
My wish - and I'm sure yours - is that a candidate of uncommon wisdom, principles, independence and leadership emerge victorious for this seat.
State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Larry Grooms says he's dropping out of the governor's race and may run for Congress.
Grooms says he may start concentrating on running for Henry Brown's vacant seat in the US House of Representatives.
Grooms' departure from the governor's race comes as little surprise. Pitted against better-known candidates McMaster, Barrett, and Bauer, the Lowcountry legislator's campaign struggled from the beginning to keep pace with the Big Three in fundraising and media exposure. And his Libertarian rhetoric -- though popular with the Tea Party crowd -- alienated mainstream Republicans and moderates. Now with Grooms gone, fellow long-shot candidate Nikki Haley will have the Tea Partiers and Sanford donors all to herself.
State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) announced today that his team raised over $222,672 last quarter, bringing the campaign's total for the election cycle to over $958,000.
According to a release from the campaign, the Sheheen Team also met its goal of reaching 2,010 contributors by 2010.
"It is incredible to think that 2,010 people have joined our effort to restore leadership and civility at the state house," said Sen. Sheheen. "Our campaign is about people, and the amount of money we have raised coupled with the number of donors shows that South Carolinians are ready for a leader who has a plan for responsible government that will help to grow jobs in our state."
This is the fourth consecutive quarter the Sheheen for Governor campaign has raised over $220,000 -- a sign the Camden Democrat will be a financial force to reckon with in this year's crowded blue primary.
The Democratic candidate for Superintendent of Education raked in an impressive $211,465 during the final quarter of 2009, leaving Holleman with a hefty $173,435 war chest moving forward.
A former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and current Greenville attorney, Holleman's list of contributors is heavy on Upstate donors and legal professionals. More important, though, is where Holleman chose to spend his money. The Democrat invested heavily in fundraising and marketing infrastructure to lay the groundwork for his early fundraising success. Included in his expenditures:
$14,101 on the Rackes Group -- a S.C. based e-marketing, webdesign and media consulting firm (the same firm used by current Supt of Education Jim Rex); and
$10,000 on the Fundraising Management Group in D.C.
Holleman's early show of strength and modest burn rate (about 21% to date) is a great sign for SC Democrats hoping to retain the seat this November.
In contrast to Holleman, Republican Brent Nelson raised only $3,085 this quarter and $21,772 to date. Six months out from a three-way GOP primary, the Furman University professor has only $1,258 on hand and a loan balance of $4,500 moving forward. Nelson's two competitors, Newberry College President Mick Zais and Dutch Fork High School teacher Kelly Payne have yet to file their fourth quarter disclosure reports with the SC State Ethics Commission.
In the wake of Henry Brown's decision not to seek re-election, rumors are spreading like wildfire across The Palmetto State about who might replace Oh Henry in the First District next year.
For Democrats, Brown's departure sets up an opportunity to make a play for an open seat in a district that's been trending slightly more moderate in recent years. In 2008, Charleston was one of only a handful of counties to flip blue in our reliably red state, and Linda Ketner's narrow 4 point loss to Brown made progressives across the country sit up and take notice of the possibilities in South Carolina's First District.
After Ketner's announcement last summer that she would not take another shot at the seat in '10, the DCCC began courting former State Rep. Robert Barber and current Rep. Leon Stavrinakis to pick up the blue mantel. But Barber opted instead to reconsider another run at the Lt Guv position and multiple sources have confirmed to Indigo Journal that Stavrinakis decided to pass on a congressional bid earlier this fall. However, given Monday's dramatic turn of events, might Stravrinakis rethink his decision?
Jane Dyer, Democratic candidate running for SC-3 - U.S. Congress, shares her thoughts on contracting out with our military. The seat is held currently by U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, who wants to be S.C.'s governor in 2010. Please help Dyer any way you can.
He answered a lot of questions, including one about the Confederate flag:
[I]n my economic plan, my jobs plan, I mention that we need to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. ... You know, we're competing every day for jobs against North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia, and don't think they don't use that against us.
Mullins McLeod's answer is exactly right. See the complete answer in the extended text.
Charleston attorney Ashley Cooper will enter the race for South Carolina lieutenant governor on Wednesday, sources tell Indigo Journal.
Her email reads:
