Saturday, May 4, 2013
Harrison is first African-American elected to lead SCDP; Connelly re-elected by SCGOP.
The major political parties in South Carolina held their biannual conventions in Columbia on Saturday. The most significant outcome was the election of Jaime Harrison as the Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party. Harrison becomes the first African-American to lead a party in the state. Despite the fact that it holds all but one of the seats in the Congressional delegation and all of the constitutional offices, the Republicans gathering was decidedly more contentious. In the weeks leading up to the convention, a rift developed within the party against Chad Connelly, who was running again for state chair. The opposition to Connelly was centered in the Upstate and among some liberty activists. Critics of Connelly pointed to the …
Friday, January 18, 2013
She gives the Democrats a proverbial puncher's chance.
Known by non-locals because of her famous brother, Elizabeth Colbert-Busch has deep ties to the Lowcountry. For some, the decision by Colbert-Busch (she pronounces the “t”) to enter the political arena came as a surprise. But, she has deep ties to the area and has been engaged in the fabric of the Lowcountry for decades. She was born in 1954, to a family with 11 children and has stared personal tragedy in the face. When she was 19, her father and two of her brothers were killed in a plane crash. Known to friends and family as "Lulu," Colbert-Busch graduated from the College of Charleston and married a man who ended up being convicted of securities fraud after being featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” She eventually met and married Claus …
Friday, October 19, 2012
S.C. Democratic Party 'Commit to Vote' flier originally listed two forms of identification only accepted for registering to vote.
A flier circulated by the S.C. Democratic Party in Dorchester County asks voters to "Commit to Vote." But it also originally offered incorrect information on voter identification. The SCDP sent Patch the following clarification: "A few dozen voters in Dorchester County received Commit to Vote cards with information that stated you could use a cell phone, utility bill or student ID to vote. Those forms of ID can only be used by those who registered by mail and didn't include a copy of their identification. Everyone who received these cards has or will be notified of the error. The South Carolina Democratic Party hopes everyone will go to the polls on November 6 and it's important to know the Voter ID law hasn't been enacted for this …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Bennett is one of nine Republican delegates from the Lowcountry, and she serves as first vice chair of the SCGOP.
Lin Bennett just didn't realize she was a Republican. About 20 years ago, the now-Summerville resident received a letter from her Maryland congressman. A Democrat that she had voted for. The letter asked if she supported Social Security. "But that's not the real issue, is it?" she remembered asking. Of course she supports Social Security — but that didn't mean it doesn't need fixing. “The letter just kind of set me over the edge, to tell you the truth," Bennett said. And just like that, Bennett, who had always voted but always voted Democrat, became interested in politics. But she didn't like what she was uncovering. “I went to a local Democrat meeting and, after the first time, I was just appalled at what I was hearing," Bennett said. "…
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Chairman Chad Connelly given authority to intervene in ballot issues.
The South Carolina Republican party is “unified” according to Executive Director Matt Moore after a session between the party’s executive committee and chairman Chad Connelly on Tuesday night in Columbia. The meeting was called after the executive committee expressed concerns about Connelly’s intervention in the race for the District 3 house seat in Pickens County. As a result of the meeting, the executive committee will now support Connelly’s decision. In the District 3 race, incumbent B.R. Skelton was narrowly defeated by Ed Harris in the primary on June 12. After his loss, Skelton filed an appeal with the executive committee, accusing Harris of filing improperly and therefore being ineligible. But the executive committee rejected …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
A second S.C. Supreme Court ruling has kicked more candidates off ballots across the state
The South Carolina Supreme Court threw more candidates off of ballots across the state Tuesday when it ruled the Florence County Republican Party had not complied with its earlier ruling removing nearly 200 candidates from ballots. And now party leaders and election officials across the state are scrambling to understand the impact. In Charleston County, Democrat Carol Tempel was initially certified by the county party following the initial court ruling, but following Tuesday's decision, Tempel announced she was droping out of the race for S.C. House District 115. "The Supreme Court could not have been more clear in their ruling yesterday. If candidates did not file properly, they should not be on the ballot. I accept full responsibility …
Monday, May 21, 2012
With Rubio making headlines in S.C., former governor raises subject of diversity on the ticket.
Former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford appears anxious for something different on the GOP presidential ticket in 2012. Speculation is growing about the names on Mitt Romney's vice presidential shortlist, including Republican Sen. Rob Portman in make-or-break Ohio. Asked about Portman on Fox News on Monday morning, Sanford had a frank analysis. "The question is: Do you have another white-bread sandwich and, you know, is it just going to be boring to voters out there? I think that that's the question with Portman," Sanford said. GOP12.com at The Hill has the video. The comment comes two days after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) made headlines during a visit to South Carolina. The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio has been lauded as a possible vice-…
One of the favorites to be the Republican vice presidential candidate spoke Saturday in Columbia.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), one of the favorites to be former Gov. Mitt Romney's VP choice in the upcoming presidential election, was in Columbia over the weekend to speak at the Silver Elephant fundraiser. Introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, as well as others, watch the video to see what Rubio had to say. Rubio takes the stage at the 16-minute mark, if you want to skip all of the introductions.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Dozens of party leaders across the state will travel to North Carolina and Florida this summer for national conventions.
At state conventions over the past two weekends, the SC Republican and Democratic parties have chosen their delegates and alternates for this summer's conventions. The SCGOP held its meeting this weekend, choosing delegates for the GOP Convention in Tampa, Fla., scheduled for the final week in August. The SCDP held its meeting last weekend, and chose delegates for the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, NC, scheduled for the first week in September. Here are the delegates and alternates chosen, according to the state political parties: Delegates to GOP Convention (Tampa, Fla.) Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. – At large Katon Dawson – At large Bobby Harrell – At large Larry Grooms – At large Drew McKissick – At large Tom Davis – At large Randy Page…
Thursday, April 26, 2012
State GOP chairman says Palmetto State's "first in the South" primary shouldn't be in jeopardy despite backing the wrong 2012 candidate.
Newt Gingrich appears set to bow out of the race for the Republican nomination for president, and the end of his campaign will also usher in the end of an era in South Carolina politics. For the last 30 years, the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary has gone on to win the GOP nomination. The state's predictive powers led Gingrich to rest the hopes of his faltering campaign on the South Carolina contest, projecting a victory in the race if he could reel in the Palmetto State. Gingrich went on to overwhelm Mitt Romney and the rest of the field in January, only to win only one more primary contest (his native Georgia) amid dozens over the next three months. Ultimately, it was Rick Santorum's conservative bona fides that served …
Shawn Drury
11:43 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013
Rusty, You are correct. I used the wrong principal. (subsequently corrected). SD more ›