by Jenny Munro
Greenville News
March 9, 2010

Two long-time state Democratic political leaders Monday endorsed state Sen. Vincent Sheheen in his campaign to become South Carolina’s next governor.

Former Lt. Governor Nick Theodore and Rex Carter, former speaker of the South Carolina House, announced their support to Sheheen as the next governor. They joined a group of 40 legislators who announced support for their colleague last week.

“He has made, in my judgment, an outstanding senator, an outstanding house member,” said Carter, adding he served with seven governors. “I want the opportunity for Vincent to serve me as governor. I honestly believe the future of South Carolina rests with Vincent Sheheen.”

South Carolina “is a fragile state,” Theodore said. “We have found ourselves again on the top of every bad list and the bottom of every good list. The only way for us to have true productivity is to have the governor and the legislature working together. And it’s worked” in the past with governors who had the ability to lead and persuade.

Sheheen “understands very well that an educated workforce is the only way South Carolina can compete with other states in the nation in a global economy,” Theodore said, also praising the senator’s work with economic development and the environment.

He said that, if elected, Sheheen has pledged to visit every county in the state in the first six of months of his term to learn about their economic problems and economic assets.

Sheheen thanked Carter and Theodore for their support and their service to the state.

When it comes to jobs, a governor needs to “work himself to recruit industry”, he said. But “we also need to have an emphasis on small business in the government,” and he said he would create a government agency to work with small businesses. A major help for small-business sector would be a stable and equitable tax system, and reform measures need to look at all aspects of taxes.

Also, South Carolina’s jobless crisis must be addressed by enhancing the technical college system’s role in retraining workers as well as become more integrated with high schools to encourage young people to stay in school and graduate.

by Corey Hutchins
The Free-Times
March 5, 2010

In a crowded State House lobby outside the legislative chamber Thursday morning, State Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden, who is running for governor, announced the names of 40 Democrats in the General Assembly who are endorsing his candidacy for their party’s nomination.

The list includes 30 members of the S.C. House and 10 from the Senate. A handful of them stood behind him at the news conference, praising his commitment to the party.

Sheheen is “the right man for the right job at the right time,” said Sen. Joel Lourie of Columbia.

Sheheen responded to those around him by saying, “When I look at this group, I see leadership.” He also said he supports raising the state’s lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax.

Sheheen’s list of Democratic endorsements includes South Carolina’s longest-serving legislator, Sen. John Land, who is the minority leader in that chamber. The House’s minority leader, Rep. Harry Ott, also endorsed Sheheen.
 
The Kershaw County city prosecutor gained a bump in momentum in recent weeks when his closest financial rival in the race, Lowcountry lawyer Mullins McLeod, decided to drop out and endorse Sheheen in the June 8 primary.

His closest competitor on the money front is now Columbia attorney and former lobbyist Dwight Drake. Drake has said he is the only candidate for governor of either party from the private sector.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, who has had low cash-on-hand but high poll numbers, and Charleston Sen. Robert Ford are also running for the nomination.