March 2010

Brad Warthen's Blog: SC Hospitals’ PAC to support Sheheen

by Brad Warthen
www.bradwarthen.com
March 19, 2010

Remember that gubernatorial debate I moderated for the S.C. Hospital Association? That was part of the Association’s discernment process as they tried to decide whom, if anyone, to back in the election.

The Association has not yet decided whom to endorse in that election, or even whether it will endorse, Association chief Thornton Kirby told me Friday afternoon.

But financial support is another matter. The Association’s PAC has decided to go ahead and contribute financially to the Vincent Sheheen campaign. Mr. Kirby said that doesn’t mean the Association will necessarily endorse him, and it doesn’t mean the PAC won’t contribute to other campaigns. But so far, Sen. Sheheen is the only gubernatorial candidate the PAC has decide to contribute to. That reflects the fact that “He’s so solidly out there on some things that are important to us,” said Mr. Kirby.

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.

Greenville News: Nick Theodore, Rex Carter endorse Sheheen for governor

Economic development, education, jobs important issues

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.

AP: Sheheen wins backing of half of Legislature's Dems

Associated Press
March 4, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Half of South Carolina's Democrats in the Statehouse say they've found their candidate for governor.

State Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden picked up endorsements from 10 of the Senate's 19 Democrats on Thursday. Meanwhile, 30 of the House's 51 Democrats are backing him.

That news for Sheheen comes nearly two weeks before the official filing period opens for elected offices in the June 8 primary.

Political observers often discount the clout of endorsements and say they're only worth what an endorser will do for a candidate by bringing in other supporters or donors.

Sheheen's opponents are busy lining up support, too. Sheheen's challengers in the primary are Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston, state Education Superintendent Jim Rex and Columbia lawyer Dwight Drake.

Free-Times: State House Democrats Line Up Behind Sheheen

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.

O'burg Times & Democrat: Lawmakers announce support for Sheheen

by T&D Staff
Orangeburg Times and Democrat
March 5, 2010

Three local lawmakers were part of a group of 40 members of the General Assembly who announced their support for Sen. Vincent Sheheen’s campaign for governor during a Thursday press conference.

“I’m grateful to my friends and colleagues in the legislature for standing with me and supporting me today,” Sheheen said. “As governor, I’ll work with them to tackle the many challenges facing our state.”

Among those announcing their support for the Camden Democrat were Rep. Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews, and Sens. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and John Land, D-Manning.