McLeod Withdraws from Gubernatorial Race - Endorses Sheheen

by: McLeodForGovernor

Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 13:16:56 PM EST

McLeod Withdraws from Gubernatorial Race - Endorses Vincent Sheheen

Columbia, SC - Today, Democrat Mullins McLeod withdrew from the 2010 gubernatorial race and endorsed his formal rival, State Senator Vincent Sheheen. McLeod made the following statement at the news conference:

Good morning and thank you for being here.  2010 is a critical year for South Carolina. Our state has suffered from record unemployment, underfunded public schools, and politicians who have put their own self interest ahead of working families in our state for far too long.

In April of last year, I began my campaign for Governor to help bring about the change South Carolina needs. I have traveled all over this beautiful state, from the coast to the mountains. And I can assure you that our people deserve better from what they are getting from the Governor's office. They deserve leaders who will say no to special interest lobbyists who poison the system. They deserve leaders who will put people first again and change the culture in Columbia.

Our window of opportunity for change in South Carolina is not that wide and it's not that long.  The school kids who aren't getting proper nutrition at home can't wait any longer - the unemployed and underemployed parents who don't know where the next mortgage check is coming from can't wait any longer. The teachers who are scared to death that they'll be the next victim of budget cuts cannot wait any longer.

South Carolina needs fundamental change but many of the candidates for Governor, especially on the Republican side, represent more of the same.

Over the course of my candidacy I have come to know Vincent Sheheen. Like my candidacy, Vincent's run for Governor represents a new generation of leaders I believe our state desperately needs. Vincent, too, is a change candidate. He has stood up to the lobbyists, he has fought to create jobs and he knows the politics of the past won't solve today's problems. And, without doubt, the politics of the past cannot prepare us for the future.

Running for Governor has been a real pleasure for me. Talking with hard working South Carolinians who desperately want what's best for their families has made a huge impact on me. But this campaign is not about me and it never has been. This campaign is about those families. This campaign is about bringing the change those families so desperately need.

For the sake of our state and our party's chances in November, I will not allow those seeking change to endure a divisive primary battle between candidates fighting for the same thing. There's simply too much at risk.  A Bauer, McMaster, Barrett or Haley in the Governor's office would do what we have seen done in the past- they would forget about the everyday folks in South Carolina and concentrate on the status quo. We cannot let this happen.

Today, I am ending my candidacy for Governor and I will not seek any elected office in 2010. Instead, I will continue to fight for those families and I will continue to fight for change by endorsing and campaigning for Vincent Sheheen.

Unified, we can win in November. Unified we can improve our schools, create jobs, curb the influence of lobbyists, and prepare for the future. Together we can bring change - divided we will fail.

I'd like to thank my supporters, staff, and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. And I ask them to join me in actively making Vincent Sheheen South Carolina's next Governor.

Thank you.

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.

McLeod hosting food drive during SC GOP debate

by: Jennifer Read

Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 15:32:22 PM EST

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod is taking advantage of Republican Andre Bauer's tasteless 'stray animals' comments last week by hosting a food drive for the Lowcountry Food Bank during tonight's big GOP gubernatorial debate in Charleston.

While S.C. Republicans shell out $500 a pop to hear Bauer and his rivals spar in front of Joe and Mika, McLeod will be at nearby Vickery's restaurant collecting donations for needy South Carolina families.

“I’m tired of embarrassing, divisive comments like that coming from South Carolina’s leaders," said McLeod. "I want to turn this latest debacle into something positive."

If you're in the Charleston area tonight, you can drop off non-perishable food items between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Vickery's on Beaufain Street.

Help me turn Andre Bauer's comments into something positive

by: McLeodForGovernor

Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 21:09:30 PM EST

Like you, I am disgusted by Lt. Governor Andre Bauer's comments comparing poor school children to stray animals. It amazes me how some Republican politicians who campaign on Christian values continue to do and say such unchristian things.

Blaming hungry children for their economic situation and threatening to withhold food and nutrition is just plain wrong. It's much more than a poor choice of words, and all South Carolinians, Democrats and Republicans, should join us in denouncing Bauer's divisive comments.

I've decided to make this negative into something positive and I need your help.

Thursday, January 28, South Carolina Republicans are paying as much as $500 each to watch Andre Bauer and the other GOP gubernatorial candidates debate in Charleston.  While they're forking over big bucks to their political party, I'll be across the street at Vickery's collecting food for the Lowcountry Food Bank to help the very kids Bauer compared to stray animals.

I hope that some of the Republicans attending and participating in the debate will also contribute, but we need your help, especially if you live in the Charleston Area, to ensure success.

Will you help us by stopping by Vickery's anytime from 5:30 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. Thursday and donating nonperishable food?

Join me Thursday to help deserving children and their families -

· Food drive for needy families

· Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 5:30PM until 6:30 PM

· Vickery's at 15 Beaufain Street in Charleston

Contact Andrew for more information or questions at mcleodforgovernor@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Mullins McLeod

Q4 Fundraising Roundup: SC Governor's Race (Dem Edition)

by: Jennifer Read

Fri Jan 15, 2010 at 17:34:12 PM EST

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.

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.

Democratic Leaders Endorse Mullins McLeod

by: McLeodForGovernor

Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 13:43:40 PM EST

Democratic Leaders Endorse Mullins McLeod

Today, a group of Democratic Party leaders from all over South Carolina announced their support for Mullins McLeod's candidacy for Governor.

McLeod, who has been the only Democratic candidate willing to speak out on major issues like health care reform, has been running an aggressive campaign focusing on job creation, education, and reform. McLeod has already issued a detailed plan to create jobs in both the short and long term and has released a specific plan to curb the influence of special interest lobbyists at the State House.

McLeod said that he is humbled to have the support of these leaders. "I'm honored that my campaign for change has earned the support of such strong and respected leaders. I look forward to working with them during the campaign and beyond to ensure that South Carolina is never again near first in unemployment and near last in education," he said.

State Representative Leon Stavrinakis noted McLeod's experience in the private sector as someone who has consistently fought for working families.  "Mullins represents the kind of new leadership South Carolina needs. He'll use his experience to cut through politics as usual and make change happen," said Stavrinakis.

Bamberg County Democratic Party Chairman St. Clair Guess III said that McLeod's candidacy is refreshing.  "I am enthusiastically supporting Mullins McLeod. He is all about reliability, a quality that has long vanished from the governor's office," Guess said.

This release of supporters by the McLeod campaign is the first in a series of such announcements over the next few months.

Below is the complete list of Democratic leaders endorsing McLeod today:

Elaine Gentry - Greenwood County Democratic Party Chairwoman

St. Clair Guess III - Bamberg County Democratic Party Chairman

Curtis Inabinett - Charleston County Council, former member of the SC House of Representatives

William McIntosh - Former Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman

Walt McLeod - SC House of Representatives

Victor Rawl - Charleston County Council, former member of the SC House of Representatives

Leon Stavrinakis - SC House of Representatives

Elliott Summey - Charleston County Council

###

SCDP Grand Strand Reception energizes base

by: JamieSanderson

Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 00:34:46 AM EST

Mullins McLeod on Frank Knapp's Show

by: michaelrodgers

Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 16:23:35 PM EST

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod was on Frank Knapp's show UNeed2Know on Thursday, November 19 (listen).

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.

McLeod Releases Jobs Plan

by: Tim Kelly

Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 09:49:49 AM EST

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod has released his plan for creating jobs through a combination of tax cuts, small business assistance, renewed focus on recruiting and creating green jobs - and removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.

“The Confederate flag debate continues to hold our state back. We are not going to compete in a 21st Century economy by prolonging 19th Century arguments. It is time for us to send a clear and unambiguous signal to the rest of the country, and the entire world, that South Carolina is better than what people see on the news, and that we are ready to make progress. By agreeing to move past this old argument once and for all, we will be telling the world that South Carolina is ready to lead again,” McLeod said.

McLeod's plan puts special emphasis on growing small businesses in the state. It would:

• Provide a tax break to any business creating even a single job.
  
• Re-organize the Department of Commerce so it focuses on growing small businesses with the same focus it places on recruiting large corporations.
• Use technology to move all small business services provided by both state and county governments’ online, cutting red-tape and paperwork.
• Double the tax deduction for small business start up expenses.
  

McLeod also said he would expand the state's rural business fund, expand broadband Internet access in rural areas and provide additional job training opportunities in rural areas through the state’s technical schools.

McLeod also called for refocusing the state's technical and vocational educational systems to emphasize worker training for new "green energy jobs," in order to attract cutting edge industry to South Carolina while making us more energy independent. He would also instruct the Department of Commerce to recruit more green jobs and serve as an incubator for South Carolina companies interested in creating Green Jobs.

“My plan provides middle-class tax relief, it expands opportunities to help small businesses grow, it prepares South Carolina for the green economy, and it lays out a plan to change the culture of Columbia by outlawing special-interest money and implementing groundbreaking lobbying reform. The career politicians keep recycling the same old talking points when it comes to job creation, I have a real plan that will get South Carolinians working again,” said McLeod.

McLeod to Barrett: Stick it where the sun don't shine

by: Tim Kelly

Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:41:27 AM EST

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod has issued a blunt response to the terror-pandering of U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett (R - Project Runway):

Dear Congressman Barrett,

I received your email of November 3, 2009 requesting that I sign a message to President Obama demanding that the United States not transfer terrorist suspects to South Carolina or American soil for military trial.

With all due respect, I’d request that you take your letter and shove it.

In times of war, our duty as Americans is to pull together and do our part to secure victory.

No one wants suspected terrorists on our soil while they await their richly-deserved punishment. But when the President asks us to do our part in the international war on terrorism, the only appropriate response from this or any state’s Governor is “Yes Sir, Mr. President.”

Frankly, I am surprised that you would choose to play politics rather than support our war effort. After all, you were in the South Carolina Legislature when President Bush sent infamous terrorist suspect Jose Padilla (a.k.a Abdullah al-Muhajir) to the Naval Brig in North Charleston -- and I don’t recall you objecting then.

Winning the War on Terrorism is one of this country’s most daunting tasks. I will do everything I can to help my country and support our military.

That, my friends, is telling it like it is. Only one problem with asking Gresham to shove it - he's already got his pretty head wedged in there, so there may not be any room left.

Mullins McLeod Inspires Progressive Democrats

by: michaelrodgers

Sat Sep 12, 2009 at 16:29:32 PM EDT

McLeod Proposes New Lobbying Regulations

by: Tim Kelly

Tue Sep 08, 2009 at 14:55:14 PM EDT

Gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod is proposing several tough new lobbying reforms "...designed to end the powerful reign that registered lobbyists have enjoyed over South Carolina government."

“Time and time again the lobbyists have run rough-shot over the people. They run the show in Columbia and don’t have to answer for their actions,” McLeod said. “Most of what they do is done behind closed doors and the voters back home never know about it.”

The most intriguing part of McLeod’s reform package will force lobbyists to report all meetings they have with legislators or their staff to the State Ethics Commission, which will post those meetings on-line within 24 hours. Voters will be able to sign up for email notices alerting them when their representative interacts with a lobbyist.

“The voters back home deserve to know when a highly paid lobbyist working for special interests like polluters or tobacco companies attempt to influence their legislator. The voters should be in charge, not the lobbyists,” McLeod said.

Other reforms proposed by McLeod include immediate public on-line reporting of all lobbying contracts, daily public on-line reporting from each lobbyist detailing the number of hours they spent on State House grounds, and lobbying bans on immediate family members of top government officials.

“The same old ways in Columbia have given us record unemployment and failing schools. As Governor I will shake things up so that our government starts putting people ahead of the special interests." McLeod said.

The McLeod Lobbying Reform Package:

• Registered lobbyists must disclose all of their clients and the amount of money they are being paid within 24 hours of signing a contract. This reporting must be made on-line on the SC Ethics Commissions web site.
• Registered lobbyists must report to the SC Ethics Commission by midnight every night the number of hours they spent on State House grounds that day and the exact times they were present. This information must be reported on-line.
• All registered lobbyists must report to the SC Ethics Commission any and all meetings or interactions with legislators or their aides that pertain to pending legislation. This must be reported on-line on the ethics commission’s web site within 24 hours of such meeting or interaction. A legislator’s constituents will have an option to sign up for email alerts notifying them when lobbyists have made contact with their representative.
• An immediate ban on state agencies using taxpayer money to hire lobbyists. This will include the Governor’s office.
• A ban that keeps Governor’s office staffers from leaving state government and lobbying while the Governor they worked for is still in office.
• A ban on immediate family members of the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House from becoming lobbyists.

2010 Governor's Race: Endorsements and Attacks Coming Fast and Furious

by: Tim Kelly

Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 10:24:57 AM EDT

With the official entrance of one candidate and the expected annoucement of another soon to come, the endorsements and recriminations are flying in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Current education chief Jim Rex isn't even an official candidate yet, but he's already won the endorsement of Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols.

“South Carolina needs the kind of leadership Jim Rex will provide, and I hope he will run for Governor,” said Echols. “We are at a crossroads in South Carolina, and as the mayor of Rock Hill, I know how important it is to have a partner in the Governor’s office who understands what it takes to bring jobs and economic development to our communities.” 

Echols was elected mayor in 1998 and has been re-elected twice.

Meanwhile, the bombshell announcement by Columbia attorney and powerbroker Dwight Drake brought swift response from his primary opponents and their allies.

First out of the gates was Kershaw representative Laurie Slade Funderburk.

"Dwight Drake has a well-earned reputation as a top lobbyist in this state. Unfortunately, he has built his career, in large part, by protecting the status quo for powerful special interests," Fundburk said, singling out Drake clients in tobacco, nuclear waste and payday lending.

Close on the heels of Funderburk came statements from two of Drake's opponents. 

While Vincent Sheheen didn't refer to Drake by name, his statement closely tracked that of Funderburk.

“In the South Carolina Senate, I have focused on fighting the special interests and insider politics that too often control our government in Columbia at the expense of the people," Sheheen said. "Whether it be predatory lenders, big tobacco companies, or environmental polluters, I have been willing to stand up to them — and stand up FOR hard-working South Carolinians and our families."

Mullins McLeod didn't hesitate to call Drake out for his profession though.

"We welcome Mr. Drake to the race — he is a smart and talented person. But with all due respect, a corporate lobbyist won’t change politics as usual in Columbia," said a statement released by McLeod's campaign. 

For his part, Heyward Harvin, who has close ties to McLeod consultant Lachlan McIntosh, almost immediately launched a Who Is Dwight Drake website.  The site wasn't as spur of the moment as it seems, though. Records show that the domain name was purchased last month and is privately registered.

McLeod Raises Over $165,000 for SC Governor's Race

by: Jennifer Read

Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 13:59:54 PM EDT

"I'm honored that so many South Carolinians have joined our campaign for change. The political insiders and Columbia politicians have been opposed to this campaign since day one, because they know I'll shake up politics as usual and focus on what matters most - creating jobs," said McLeod.

According to his disclosure report, McLeod has raised $168,845 to date and spent just over $13,280, leaving the Charleston attorney and small businessman with $155,564 COH moving forward.

It's a strong start for the McLeod team. As for his primary challenger state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, the Sheheen team reported $271,362 COH as of April 10, 2009. We'll bring you more numbers as they come in.