SC Now: Analysis: Thursday with Thigpen

by Joe Kasko
Florence Morning News
March 11, 2010

COLUMBIA – Every Thursday, Dr. Neal Thigpen provides his insights on the week’s top political stories. Today we discuss a new poll in the governor’s race, a big endorsement for two of the candidates, and another candidate that has dropped out of the race.

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Question: Things are a little closer among Democrats in the governor’s race, according to the Rasmussen poll of likely Democratic primary voters. S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen each were favored by 16 percent of those surveyed. State Sen. Robert Ford was supported by 12 percent of those polled. Most people, 37 percent, were undecided and 15 percent said they support another candidate. Dwight Drake, who dropped out of the race last week, garnered 5 percent. What are your thoughts?

Answer: Unlike the Republican race, this shows that at least one candidate on the Democratic side, is moving very rapidly upward, and that’s state Sen. Sheheen. In a fairly creditable poll a few months ago, Dr. Rex had a fairly sizable lead, and Sheheen was in third. This indicates to me with Sheheen now tied with Rex, that Rex is standing still and Sheheen is moving like a Mack truck. A lot more people know who he is than knew a number of months ago. He has been the one on the Democratic side that has run a really exceptional and well-reasoned campaign. He got an early start, he’s raised the most money, and he’s put together a network of supporters.

Question: The S.C. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Gresham Barrett and Democrat Vincent Sheheen in their respective bids for governor. The Chamber is the state’s largest business advocacy group and this is the first time they have endorsed candidates for governor. What do you think of these endorsements?

Answer: Coming from the business community, it’s a plus obviously for any candidate. It’s a more routine type of endorsement on the Republican side with Congressman Barrett. He had as good a chance as the other (Republicans) in the field to get an endorsement from the Chamber, but the fact that Sen. Sheheen got the endorsement on the Democratic side is very good for him. It means the business community isn’t afraid of him just because he’s a Democrat, they must detect something in his record and his pronouncements. That suggest on business matters that he would be very conservative and businesslike on the conduct of state affairs it’s a much bigger catch for Sheheen than for Barrett.

WACH: Chamber of Commerce backs candidates for gov.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Barrett and Sheheen
COLUMBIA -- For the first time ever, the Chamber of Commerce endorsed candidates running for the nomination for the state's gubernatorial race.

The state's largest trade association issued a release Wednesday endorsing Gresham Barrett for Republican and Vincent Sheheen on the Democrat ballot.

The chamber's board of directors settled on the two candidates by a majority vote Tuesday citing Barrett's solid jobs plan and economic vision for job creation, and Sheheen's support for tax reform and port expansion, among other stances.

Greenville News: State Chamber backs Vincent Sheheen, Gresham Barrett for Governor

by Rudolph Bell
Greenville News
March 11, 2010

In its first-ever endorsements for governor, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday that Democrat Vincent Sheheen and Republican Gresham Barrett were the two candidates best equipped to lead the state back to prosperity.

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About Sheheen, a state senator from Camden, the Chamber said he has a “strong economic vision” and cited his support for comprehensive tax reform, port expansion, the technical college system, low-cost energy and small business growth.

The Chamber has never before endorsed candidates for governor, but felt it was important this year because of the state's ailing economy and high unemployment, said Otis B. Rawl Jr., its president and chief executive officer.

“We have to elect a governor who makes economic development and improving the state's business climate the priority,” Rawl said.

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The State: Barrett, Sheheen backed by S.C. chamber

by John O'Connor
The State
March 11, 2010

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen in their respective bids for governor.

The Chamber is the state's largest business-oriented advocacy group.

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Sheheen, D-Kershaw, got credit for supporting comprehensive tax reform, port expansion, improvement to the technical college system, low-cost energy sources and small businesses. His experiences in the General Assembly, the Chamber said, "make him equipped to handle the demands leading the state."

State Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston and Superintendent of Education Jim Rex also are running on the Democratic side.

This is the first year the state chamber has endorsed candidates for governor.

"It is vitally important the business community be involved in the 2010 race for governor," said Otis Rawl, president and CEO of the chamber, citing the difficulty of creating jobs in a poor economy. "The chamber is a bipartisan organization that knows real and sustained success for South Carolina will not happen unless both parties work alongside one another."

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The State: Sheheen picks up more endorsements

S.C. Politics Today
The State
March 9, 2010

Former  Lt. Governor Nick Theodore and former House Speaker Rex Carter, both Democrats, have endorsed Kershaw Sen. Vincent Sheheen for governor.

"The governor of South Carolina can move us forward, and Vincent Sheheen has that ability," said Theodore. "Serving in the House of Representatives and serving in the Senate, he has worked closely with both sides of the aisle, and I know he'll do that as governor."

Sheheen is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Also in the Democratic race are Charleston Sen. Robert Ford and S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex.


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