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:
Leading Democratic Senate candidate Chad McGowan announced Wednesday that he is ending his brief bid to unseat Republican Sen. Jim DeMint.
"I've come to the conclusion that now is the wrong time for me to mount a successful campaign for the United States Senate," said McGowan. "The demands of a young family place a premium on every minute. There is nothing more important to me than my wife and three small children. In order to fulfill my duties as a husband and a father, I'll be leaving the race for United States Senate effective immediately."
The Rock Hill attorney thanked his supporters and said he would be offering full refunds to each of his contributors. Since announcing his Senate bid in October, the conservative Democrat has raised almost $250,000, a respectable figure but well shy of DeMint's $3.2 million cash on hand.
McGowan's unexpected departure from the race leaves retired automotive executive Mike Ruckes of Summerville and North Myrtle Beach resident Gary Stephens as the only declared Democratic candidates. However, according to FEC records, neither Ruckes nor Stephens have any cash on hand to wage competitive campaigns.
So will S.C. Democrats be able to field a viable challenger to DeMint in the fall?
Currently, Charleston County Councilman Vic Rawl is weighing a possible Senate bid, but has not formally announced his intentions. Another name being thrown around is current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod, who is facing a competitive five-way primary battle. McLeod has the ability to self-finance and the campaign infrastructure in place to hit the ground running; however, McLeod's campaign said Wednesday that the Charleston attorney remains committed to the governor's race.
Democrats have until the end of March to find a credible candidate to run in November.
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?
I would like to enjoy watching Scott Brown's leggy daughter sing, but the memory of the man who called my law office on Monday desperate to get followup treatment after an ER visit from anyone makes it impossible. I would love to be a Republlican, but being the nearsighted attorney that I am, i am up to my elbows in the human misery of divorces of people who could barely take care of their children when married, whose lifetime of honest work has secured nothing.
No amount of zoloft and Scotch keeps the rising sound of suffering and fear in our culture out of my ears. I know how evil Exxon, Cigna and Walmart are. I know the poor are not saints. We are asked to choose between a decent world and a brutal one. It is a hard messy business. This is no time for a Caribbean vacation or a month long crycing jag.
On January 30th. in Charleston, we are going to do some of the many things we need to do right now. Read about it in the extended text.
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.
Image, left, Setup of Lowcountry Democratic Operations Center, Oct. 2009. Additional space within the building has been rented for the day to accommodate the event.
Lowcountry people supportive of President Obama’s agenda for Hope and Change will work all day Saturday, January 30 to bring ideas and effort together for a better America. That day, FOX news personalities Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly will be cultivating an atmosphere of fear at the North Charleston coliseum.
Democrats will devote the day to solution-oriented training discussions, phone banking and voter registration efforts at the Lowcountry Democratic operations center and elsewhere in North Charleston. Supporters of President Obama are invited to register and participate. Full details on the day’s events can be found at http://tinyurl.com/sc-change2010.
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 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.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is launching a new radio ad campaign against U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, slamming the South Carolina Republican for supporting TARP in 2008 but voting against the Democrats' financial regulatory reform bill last week.
The 60-second radio spot, which will begin airing on Wednesday across the Second District, accuses Wilson of putting the interests of big Wall Street firms above the needs of his constituents:
"October 2008, the last months of the Bush presidency. The big banks and financial institutions almost collapsed, putting our entire economy at risk. Remember? We all know we should never let this happen again. That's why what our Congressman Joe Wilson did last week is so disturbing." a male narrator says.
"Congressman Wilson voted to let Wall Street continue the same risky practices that crippled retirement accounts and left taxpayers on the hook for $700 billion dollars," the ad continues. "And he voted to allow the big banks to pay high rolling executives unchecked compensation and bonuses. Maybe the $55,000 dollars that financial special interests have given to Congressman Wilson mattered more to him than protecting taxpayers and consumers.
"Doesn't that just make you mad? Call Joe Wilson, tell him to stop standing up for the big banks and to start standing up for us."
According to CQ Politics, Wilson is one of only five House Republicans the DCCC plans to target this week with radio ads -- a reassuring sign to S.C. Democrats that the national party remains interested in helping Rob Miller put up a strong fight against 'Old Yeller' in 2010.
I would like to enjoy watching Scott Brown's leggy daughter sing, but the memory of the man who called my law office on Monday desperate to get followup treatment after an ER visit from anyone makes it impossible. I would love to be a Republlican, but being the nearsighted attorney that I am, i am up to my elbows in the human misery of divorces of people who could barely take care of their children when married, whose lifetime of honest work has secured nothing.
Charleston attorney Ashley Cooper will enter the race for South Carolina lieutenant governor on Wednesday, sources tell Indigo Journal.
Image, left, Setup of Lowcountry Democratic Operations Center, Oct. 2009. Additional space within the building has been rented for the day to accommodate the event. 
Her email reads:
