Campaigning Uphill with Vic Rawl for US Senate

by: wjhamilton 29464

Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 22:58:52 PM EST

Image, Right, Rawl addresses Spartanburg Democratic Convention.

The tour was uphill because it ran from South Carolina’s coast, where the historic gardens of Charleston are greening towards an explosion of Azaelias, over the sand hills and through the State Capital to the manufacturing cities of the Piedmont.  We gained over a thousand feet in elevation in the course of the day.

It’s also uphill because Vic’s opponent, Jim “Waterloo” Demint is constantly reported to have a campaign fund of over three million dollars.  Our fund, which has doubled in the last 24 hours, is a few million less.  Some people conclude the incumbent’s lead in special interest cash exempts DeMint from having to run a real campaign.

The day began with the campaign website went online with flikr, twitter and youtube feeds.  You can view it's evolving content at www.vicrawl.com.

READ THE EXTENDED TEXT TO FIND OUT HOW THE TRIP WENT

Rawl Plans Cross State Announcement Tour for US Senate Run

by: wjhamilton 29464

Wed Mar 03, 2010 at 10:18:49 AM EST

A Facebook group is functioning to bring together supporters of the campaign. 

The press release reads as follows:

Rawl To Announce Campaign for US Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- 3/3/2010-  9:51 AM

Vic Rawl, former State Legislator, Judge, Prosecutor and current member of Charleston County Council will open his campaign to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate with a day long tour from the coast to the mountains on Monday, March 8.

Rawl will begin the tour at 10 am in front of the Lonnie Hamilton County Services Building 4045 Bridge View Dr, in North Charleston, SC. In case of rain, the announcement will be made inside the building’s rotunda.

The Campaign will move to Columbia, SC for a 1 pm press conference at SC Democratic Party Headquarters at 1529 Hampton St.

The Tour will conclude with appearances at both the Spartanburg and Greenville County Democratic Party Conventions that evening between 6 and 8 pm.

The Campaign’s online presence will activate that morning with a Website, Twitter, and Facebook presence.

The campaign tour can be reached on cell phone that day at (843) 343-9486. Updates will be posted on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Rawl_for_Se... throughout the day with links to internet and video content.

END END END

A Pineapple and an Aloha Shoutout for DeMint

by: wjhamilton 29464

Sat Feb 27, 2010 at 10:35:47 AM EST

I'll be at the Dorchester Democrat's Summerville, SC BBQ tonight (Sat. Feb. 27, 2010) with my video camera shooting short comments on SC Senator Jim DeMint's decision to lead a Republican Senate Filibuster against a bill passed by the House which would allow Native Hawians to have the same soverign nation status as other recognized Native Peoples in the United States. 

You can read the details about this issue at
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/house-votes-to-give-native-hawaiians-sovereign-powers/19372474

We plan to shoot short comments from those present apologizing to the native people of Hawii for Jim Demint.  Speakers can assure them we respect them as both members of a unique culture and fellow Citizens of the United States.  You can thank them for our President if you like.  We'll be giving you a pineapple to hold as a prop.  You can speak from notes of off the cuff.

We'll edit the best comments together on Youtube and send them as a video shout out to the native people of Hawii.

Jim DeMint routinely neglets the needs of the people of South Carolina to oppose our President.  He also constantly obstructs on issues which have nothing to do with our state's needs and which alienate other members of Congress unnecessarily.  While some of these are genuine conservative priorities, many would more properly be addressed by Republicans from other states.  DeMint makes  enemies for South Carolina which diminish our standing in the Congress and damage the ablity of all our Congressmen and Senators in Washington to represent our state.

We'll try to find a quiet, well lit place out of the way to do the shoot so we don't disrupt the party.  All Democrats are welcome this evening.  You can find full details on the event at http://www.dordems.org/?page_id=2

This effort is not endorsed by any candidate.

70% don't think South Carolina is DeMint's top priority

by: SC New Democrats

Tue Feb 23, 2010 at 15:36:40 PM EST

Chad McGowan Drops US Senate Bid

by: Jennifer Read

Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 17:25:21 PM EST

"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.

Vic Rawl Considering Run Against Jim DeMint

by: wjhamilton 29464

Mon Feb 01, 2010 at 11:10:32 AM EST

Jim DeMint's destructive and negative campaign against the President and progress for America is generating increasing interest in opposing him in the US Senate.  On Saturday, the Hon. Victor Rawl, former Judge, State Legislator, Industrial Commissioner and current member of Charleston County Council, recorded a YouTube video announcing an exploratory effort to see what sort of interest and support a campaign by him might attract.

You can see the video on YouTube here.

According to a phone call this morning, Rawl is looking forward to talking with South Carolinians from all backgrounds and his many friends from his long career in public service and politics about the issues before the state.

Two Facebook groups were formed to support the exploratory effort:  Draft Vic Rawl for US Senate and Vic Rawl for US Senate.

Rawl joined Facebook this afternoon and you can find him here. Do bear in mind that this is his first outing in social networking and it may take him a little time to get up to speed.

Rawl recorded his video at the Yes to Rational Solutions, No to Fear Democratic event in N. Charleston, utilizing the digital studio set up there.  The studio recorded several videos that afternoon which were transmitted to YouTube immediately, right from the operations center.

Why we need Chad McGowan in South Carolina

by: Jamie Sanderson

Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 13:47:49 PM EST

Jim DeMint is a poor excuse for a senator

by: Jamie Sanderson

Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 13:14:57 PM EST

DeMint continues to block TSA chief

by: SC New Democrats

Tue Dec 29, 2009 at 10:51:09 AM EST

DeMint: Gay marriage "religious issue" wants court ruling... or does he?

by: SC New Democrats

Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 11:36:40 AM EST

And the chips continue to fall...

Not satisfied to leave gay marriage as merely "behavior that has been proven to be destructive to our society", Sen Jim DeMint went further during an interview with religious commentator Janet Porter, in the same sentence calling for a court ruling on gay marriage, then ruling out judicial action on what he calls a "religious issue" (for more background on Ms. Porter, see "You cannot be a Christian and vote for Obama").

DeMint: Gay marriage "destructive to our society"

by: SC New Democrats

Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 23:23:27 PM EST

Polls show senate race wide open

by: SC New Democrats

Tue Dec 08, 2009 at 18:31:20 PM EST

In two polls released today, Public Policy Polling and Rasmussen polling organizations both showed US Senator Jim DeMint as a vulnerable seat up for grabs in next year's election.

Good News and Bad News for Jim DeMint

by: SC New Democrats

Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 15:48:02 PM EST

First the good news...

Sarah and Jim Unindexed

by: wjhamilton 29464

Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:42:37 AM EST

Media reports that Sarah Palin’s new book, a national bestseller which will no doubt gather dust unread in millions of right wing househood’s, lacks an index.

Image, Left, Opening of Chas. Co. Democratic HQ, which should have my copy of Jim DeMint's book handy for future reference if you could actually refer to it by uising an index.

Slate article on lack of index in Palin Book.  http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-12/the-missing-pages-in-palins-book/

In most cases, there is now a handy way to get access to a keyword seach of such books.

Sen. Jim DeMint’s book, published last summer to limited notice and sales, also lacked an index.  When one went looking for his positions on healthcare, they were difficult to find.  His plans referenced other parts of the book, but when you finally found the material he was apparently referencing it didn’t quite prove what was promised.  The table of contents was weak.  Logical and economic connections between his material and his arguments were apparently missing.   

HOW TO GET AT UNINDEXED DETAILS IN THE EXTENDED TEXT

Ruckes Release Challenges McGowan on Republican Connections

by: wjhamilton 29464

Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 14:43:13 PM EST

REVISED- NEW MATERIAL AT END OF POST- The Mike Ruckes for US Senate Campaign has called Chad McGowan out for his connections to Republican Politicians and lack of a track record as an active Democrat.  He's challenged McGowan to a Debate. 

McGowan was scheduled to address the next meeting of the Charleston County Democratic Executive Commitee on November 18, 2009 but will have to reschedule due to a conflict with a fundraiser.  Lowcountry Democrats have been discussing his bid for several weeks.  A recent article about McGowan in the Charleston City paper avoided substaintive answers on Helthcare Reform, Energy Legislation and Abortion.  See the article at http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/mcgowan-enters-senate-race-wants-results/Content?oid=1459813

Today's press release reads as follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Who is Chad McGowan?
Who is Chad McGowan? He hasn't really said. In a statement to the (Charleston) Post and Courier he talked about his support and agreement with Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican his wife donated to. In another interview he said he was a conservative. His voting record shows he voted in REPUBLICAN primaries not Democratic primaries, including the 2008 Republican Presidential Primary. Is this a Democrat? Why is he running in the Democratic primary? But what really matters is where does he stand on the issues important to South Carolina? he just hasn't said! We urge him to stand on the issues in a frank, forthright debate with Mike Ruckes.

Who is Mike Ruckes?
Mike is the son of southern sharecroppers and as a member of the working middle class supports REAL middle class values. Mike has promised to support real ongoing healthcare reform, work to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, work for alternate energy solutions to end our dependency on foreign oil, work to better our educational system and fight for the middle class. Mike will stand up for the values that are important to South Carolinians, not the special interests like trial lawyers, corporations and the rich. We need Mike's voice in the US Senate not another Lindsey Graham. we need a real choice between a TRUE Democrat and Senator Jim Demint who has disgraced South Carolina too many times!

Mike Ruckes for US Senate,  www.mikeruckes2010.com

Chad McGowan's Senate Campaign website, which didn't have any substantive issue oriented material at the time I last checked can be found at http://www.chadmcgowan.com/ from which a twitter feed and facebook updates can be accessed. Perhaps SC Progressives need to engage him in the electronic realm to determine what his positions actually are.

DeMint is clearly a menace to the State and Nation, but a serious run against him will require all the resources of the Democratic Party and the capacity to engage both the progressive base, moderate liberals and whatever is left of the middle class still capable of recognizing its own economic and social interests.  It's no longer possible to TV your way into public office and DeMint should have the money to buy the airwaves when FOX news isn't mainlining into the minds of the teabagger fringe for free.  Winning takes people, lots of them.  We've built that machine and we need to be careful with how we use it.