Sen. Graham to face 'grass-roots' GOP opponent
Summerville businessman aiming for next year's Republican primary
By Robert Behre
Summerville businessman aiming for next year's Republican primary
John J. Cina, a Summerville businessman, has never sought public office before but is starting his political career by setting his sights high. He said Friday he will oppose U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in next year's Republican primary.
"I'm not a politician. I'm an every- day citizen, an hourly wage earner," Cina said. "We need to consider what's best for the American people, what's best for the South Carolina people. We've sent people up to Washington, D.C., for a purpose, and they don't do anything we want them to."
A self-described "grass-roots right-wing conservative with unwavering principles," Cina most recently has worked as an engineering representative, processing permits for cable TV and telephone companies with Synergetic Design Inc. in Florida and South Carolina.
Cina said he began planning his bid in January and announced his intentions at the Dorchester County Republican Executive Committee meeting. He said he hasn't met Graham but isn't happy with his record.
"Let's put it this way: I don't like the direction the government is going in right now," he said. "Seventy percent of the people don't want this immigration bill passed, yet they are determined to pass this immigration bill. That's only one item."
Graham's campaign manager Scott Farmer said Graham is willing to tackle the tough issues. "From his work in confirming Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito to his steadfast support of our troops in the war on terror, Senator Graham has been a leader and a problem solver. We look forward to running a strong campaign on the senator's conservative record," Farmer said.
To see John J. Cina's Web site, log on to www.gowithcina.org.
Dorchester County Republican chairman Arthur Bryngelson called Cina "a good Republican. He is a conservative. He is a Reaganite who believes in less taxes and smaller government. That I can say unequivocally about him."
Some would describe Cina's campaign as an extreme longshot. He described it as "strictly grass-roots."
"What I need to do is to get myself known and for people to find out who I am and where I'm coming from," he said.
Graham already has amassed almost $3.7 million — more than all but two of the many Republican senators up for re-election next year.
Cina's announcement comes the same week that one potential challenger to Graham, State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, faded in popularity after his indictment Tuesday on federal charges of cocaine possession.
Reach Robert Behre at rbehre@postandcourier.com or 937-5771.
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Comments
ronnie47 (anonymous) says...
I am a forty year Republican and this is great news because I have already made up my mine to vote for a yellow dog democrat if Graham is the canidate for the Republican Party next year.
June 23, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UpstateConservative (anonymous) says...
Lindsey Graham is doing a tremendous job for the people of this state. He has a conservative voting record and is willing to address the tough issues, like immigration, facing our state and nation. It's been years since South Carolina has had a more recognizable and distinguished public servant standing on the national stage. I strongly support his reelection.
June 23, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
30 years as a democrat but now that has changed since the ted kennedy - lindsey Graham has sold us out. Never again would i vote for Graham even as dog catcher. Let him move to Mexico or to Mass. Hes a disgrace to south carolina
June 23, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tomdybowski (anonymous) says...
It's time for a change South Carolina! The people of this great state needs a leader, not a politician. I'm not a mud slinger, but it's time Linsey Graham steps down for a real conservative. I've been waiting for this for a long time. I will be watching this canidate very closely.
June 23, 2007 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
freesc07 (anonymous) says...
Graham has been a disgrace to SC and the US. He has insulted each and everyone of US who believe in our constitution and the rule of law. As a lawyer, he is an officer of the Court, and should be disbarred for promoting disobedience of the law.
To add insult to injury, Graham believes that we should treat terrorists with kindness, regardless of how many people these terrorists have beheaded.
I will do whatever it takes to make sure that he is defeated in the primary. Lindsey is the poster "boy" for illegal immigration and the Council of LaRaza.
June 26, 2007 at 2:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anjelicknight (anonymous) says...
The only reason Graham got elected is because he deceived the people of south carolina in to thinking he was a junk yard dog/ strom thurmond because of his work to help impeach Clinton. This guy is out of touch with reality and knows that the people of southcarolina is not for this imigration bill which would destroy our healthcare system and drive down wages even further. He was warned not to support this amnesty bill and now its time to send him home the same way we sent Governor Beasley home.. If Cina runs against Graham as a republican I will vote for him if not I am voting for a democrat even if his name is Bill Clinton I feel very Betrayed!!!!
June 29, 2007 at 4:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnMcKenna (anonymous) says...
To: UpstateConservative
U are in a Delusional State.
Put down the Kool Aid and pick up a fork - Graham is done.
As he should be - how could any decent voter support a slug who tries to tag them with the "Bigot" slur.
Show this bum the gate in '08!
June 29, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vigilanteman (anonymous) says...
I have relatives in Upstate South Carolina, not far from Graham's hometown of Seneca. They are salt of the earth type people as are most South Carolinans I've met.
The state deserves much better than a spokesman for the slave labor and La Raza lobbies. If he were in my state (Pennsylvania), I might hold my nose and vote for him because people are so damned dumb here they can't do any better than the two turds we have-- a senile old coot who whitewashed the Kennedy Assassination and a boy sock puppet for George Soros.
Most South Carolinas I've met, however, are a lot smarter. They deserve better than Lindsey Graham.
(In all fairness, the people in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Erie are just as smart and pro-American as South Carolina. There just aren't enough of us anymore to outvote those city socialist sonzabees.)
June 30, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
klosovo (anonymous) says...
So, how do we send $$ to this guy to oust Grahamnesty?
Good Americans around the country are eager to make an example out of a few of these traitorous poster-children.
Lott is top of the list. Grahamnesty is next.
Where's this guy's office/website?
July 3, 2007 at 3:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pappy66 (anonymous) says...
klosovo,
The WebSite is listed above. It is: www.gowithcina.org. It directs you to contacting John Cina and how to get involved.
July 3, 2007 at 7 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
klosovo (anonymous) says...
For the curious and patriotic:
http://www.gowithcina.org/join.html
July 3, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tropico (anonymous) says...
I don`t even live in South Carolina,and I am trying to find out how to send John Cina a large contribution!We live in North Carolina,but the decisions that morons like Lindsey Gramnesty make will affect all of us.We need to remember ALL of these turn-coats who voted to sell us out.They are so arrogant!And by the way,'Upstate Conservative'must be smoking the same thing these senators are!
July 4, 2007 at 1:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pappy66 (anonymous) says...
Tropico et al;
You can send donations to:
John J. Cina
US Senatorial Campaign Fund
PO Box 610
Summerville, SC. 29484
or:
You can do it on the website
www.gowithcina.org
thru PayPal.
July 11, 2007 at 6:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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