DeMint is vulnerable. Who will step up?

by: SC New Democrats

Tue Mar 02, 2010 at 17:22:08 PM EST

First, the good news. PPP ranked Jim DeMint as one of the most vulnerable incumbent GOP senators up for reelection in November:

4) Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Although there aren't very many voters who dislike DeMint, there are also a surprisingly large number with no opinion of him, putting his approval well under 50%. We found him at 44/29 in December and a Winthrop poll last week put his numbers at 43/28. When you are undefined to 30% of the electorate after five years in the Senate that gives someone else a chance to define you and DeMint's gallivanting around the country could prove to be a liability if voters don't think he's been attentive enough to South Carolina. 

Now, that bad news:

But like in Georgia, Democrats will need a candidate if they're going to take advantage of these numbers.

Democrats had a challenger in Rock Hill attorney Chad McGowan until Chad decided to drop out of the race last month.  Now, unless someone steps up to take on DeMint, South Carolina will be faced with more of the tea bagging, Waterloo wishing, stonewalling Sen. Jim DeMint they've seen for for the past year.

Who will Democrats get to step up to challenge DeMint and be the voice for South Carolina families and workers?

South Carolinians agree that DeMint is't working for them in Washington, but without another strong name on the ballot, Democrats won't give themselves a chance to win in November.

Originally posted at Blog.SCNewDemocrats.org

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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.

Democrats in Charleston Enjoy Holiday Gatherings

by: wjhamilton 29464

Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 10:17:18 AM EST

Image, Right, Dining Room at Rex Event

Jim Rex, Mullins McLeod and Mike Ruckes all held holiday fundraiser receptions in Charleston this week.

IMAGES AND MORE IN THE EXTENDED TEXT.

U.S. House candidate Dobbs endorses Ruckes for Senate

by: JamieSanderson

Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 19:53:25 PM EST

I am endorsing Mike and he is endorsing me. We are the only two "Progressives" running in both elections. We had a real good talk today.

“Mike has a proven record of standing up for progressive values and for what he believes is right. I am proud to endorse Mike Ruckes for U.S. Senate. Mike is a man of integrity and conviction that will represent South Carolina well in the U.S.Senate. No other candidate in the race will represent the State of South Carolina as Mike Ruckes will. We need to have Mike Ruckes in the U.S. Senate!”

Mike and I spoke for quite a while today and we really see eye to eye on the major issues. Mike is just like myself, a hard working person who truly believes in representing the people of our respective electorates. We both believe the Public Option needs to be in any health care reform, we both believe the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking financial resources away from the needs of our citizens, and we both believe in standing for our beliefs whether they get us elected or not. We both will not compromise just to get into office and we both won't allow the corporations or special interests dictate our political agendas. The citizens come first.

Democratic leaders endorse McGowan for Senate

by: Jennifer Read

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 16:17:30 PM EST

Rock Hill attorney Chad McGowan has reeled in the endorsements of several South Carolina Democratic leaders in his bid to become the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010. On Thursday, the McGowan campaign announced the support of a dozen Palmetto State legislators and leaders including:

• Senator Creighton Coleman (D-Farfield)
  
• Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg)
  
• Representative Paul Agnew (D-Abbeville)
  
• Representative Terry Alexander (D-Florence)
  
• Representative Boyd Brown (D-Farfield)
  
• Representative John King (D-York)
  
• Representative Bakari Sellers (D-Bamberg)
  
• Representative James Smith (D-Richland)
  
• Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
  
• Representative Ted Vick (D-Chesterfield)
  
• Dick Harpootlian, former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman
  
• Steve Benjamin, Candidate for Mayor of Columbia

“I am so humbled to have the early support of these Democratic leaders,” said McGowan. “Working together, we’ll grow our economy and create the jobs our state needs now and in the future. It’s time to put South Carolina first and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Two other candidates, retired automotive executive Mike Ruckes and North Myrtle Beach resident Gary Stephens, are also seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat. 

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.

Chad McGowan Gearing Up for U.S. Senate Run

by: Jennifer Read

Tue Sep 29, 2009 at 10:20:58 AM EDT

Rock Hill attorney Chad McGowan told the York County Democratic Party's Executive Committee last Tuesday that he plans to run for Republican Jim "Waterloo" DeMint's U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

Reportedly, McGowan plans to launch his campaign in early October and will take a year off from his job at McGowan, Hood & Felder to pursue the Democratic nomination.

At the moment, his campaign website is still under construction.

McGowan's entrance into the Senate race is a positive sign for S.C. Democrats. He's a successful litigator with the financial resources and time to mount a credible challenge to the incumbent, who's currently sitting atop a respectable $2.6 million war chest.

McGowan will face retired automotive executive Mike Ruckes in the Democratic primary.

Call for Diaries: Saturday with Mike Ruckes

by: michaelrodgers

Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 16:42:08 PM EDT

According to his schedule as posted here, Mike Ruckes will be attending the Sumter Democratic Breakfast and the Beaufort Democratic Fish Fry on Saturday, July 25.

Someone please go to one or both of these events, take pictures, and write them up as diaries. Perhaps you already know someone who is going to one or both of these events. Please tell them about indigojournal and ask them to submit a diary about their experience at the event.