Ketner still hopes she'll win race
Brown's Democratic foe waiting for final count
The Post and Courier
Henry Brown (left), Linda Ketner (right)
Henry Brown has never lost an election, for Hanahan City Council, for the State House or for the U.S. House. But Democratic challenger Linda Ketner made his re-election to the 1st Congressional District a close call.
Exactly how close remains to be seen.
The Associated Press called the race for Brown just before midnight Tuesday. He held a 56-44 lead with 55 percent of all precincts reporting.
But Ketner's communications director, Kelly Love Johnson, said late Tuesday that Ketner would wait until the full unofficial results are completed today before conceding anything.
"It could still go either way, and there's nothing to call," Johnson said. "Regardless of how it turns out, we ran a great campaign. She ran a great campaign."
Brown thanked his supporters inside the North Charleston Embassy Suites late Tuesday in what sounded like a victory speech, saying, "We believe the people have spoken." He later acknowledged the race wasn't over. "We haven't seen all the numbers," he said. "We'll see what happens tomorrow."
The 72-year-old Republican is seeking a fifth two-year term and has emphasized his desire to diversify the nation's energy sources and slash the $700 billion it spends each year on foreign oil. "I feel if we become energy independent, we'll be able to solve a lot of the financial problems we have in this country," he said.
Ketner, a 58-year-old businesswoman and philanthropist, said earlier she was glad to see the long lines Tuesday, not because of the inconvenience but because it means that her race will be decided by as many voters as possible.
"It means the people of the 1st District really will be making a decision," she said.
"I'm happy about that. Whichever way it goes, I'm pleased about that."
Ketner emphasized her plans to fix Great Depression-era regulations that once separated the nation's banks, investment houses and insurance companies, regulations that she said would have prevented the need for the nation's $700 billion financial bailout plan.
She played down her Democratic label, at one point pledging to be the "worst nightmare" for Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
The 1st District, which includes parts of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties as well as the Myrtle Beach and Georgetown areas, was considered solid Republican turf, but Ketner, whose father founded the Food Lion grocery store chain, had the money to give Brown a run.
She loaned her campaign about $700,000 and raised almost $1 million more from individual contributions. Brown raised about $900,000 this time around but had a large war chest to start with. He had spent about $700,000 as of Oct. 15 but still had almost $1 million on hand.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
A_reader (anonymous) says...
Ketner is a gay-rights advocate running in a safe Republican district. Her biggest claim to fame is that she has a rich daddy. Maybe Ketner can "go either way" but the election cannot. It was over before it began.
November 5, 2008 at 2:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EqualityB4theLawThinkAgain (anonymous) says...
Ketner was a breath of fresh air in South Carolina politics. Brown's ideas on drilling off the coast of SC are unsound. Can the people be so simple minded as to not realize the Arabs own big chunks of Exxon, Chevron, Conoco, etc. and are going to make $$$$ regardless of where these companies do business. The answer is conservation to our energy crisis and alternative renewable fuel sources that are environmentally friendly.
November 5, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
Brown is a bigot and is old, dead wood. If there's anything I've noted about SC, in as along as I've lived here they love to elect anything that's been in office long enough to count as office furniture, and is often as useful. Strom Thurmond, anybody? I think he was on life support his last two terms.
November 5, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
Brown is a self centered blow hard, but he's still a much better person than Ketner. I voted for Brown and I'm pleased that we will not have to listen to Ketner as we move forward.
November 5, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etb (anonymous) says...
Cold Bud - Move forward? You must mean become stagnate because that's what is going to happen with Brown in office AGAIN!
November 5, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
You are correct etb. We probably will be stagnant. Hopefully someone decent will run next time. My statement should have read: "...I'm pleased that we will not have to listen to Ketner as we move in the wrong direction."
November 5, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
According to the P&C Website:
U.S. House - District 1 - General November 05, 2008 - 07:46AM ET - South Carolina - 285 of 387 Precincts Reporting - 74%
At the same time:
South Carolina - 2160 of 2291 Precincts Reporting - 94%: have reported for the Graham race.
South Carolina - 2160 of 2291 Precincts Reporting - 94%: have reported for the Presidential race.
South Carolina - 395 of 395 Precincts Reporting - 100%: have reported for the Wilson Miller race.
South Carolina - 393 of 393 Precincts Reporting - 100%: have reported for the Barrett Dyer race.
Something smells rotten in the 1st District. Could it be old "Work Horse"?
November 5, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Anymore Botox injections and Ketner's face will freezeframe.
I don't care for Brown, but this extremely liberal woman knows nothing about the family values that she has touted about on her ads.
Family values pertain to a people with morals, not lesbians that support partial birth abortions(aka murder).
November 5, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonscman (anonymous) says...
Give it up Linda. If you can't even ride this years wave you don't need to count on absentees.
November 5, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
Hmmm just found out that the 102 precincts not counted yet are all in Charleston County.....
@ RTC: "Family values pertain to a people with morals, not lesbians that support partial birth abortions(aka murder)." You do not have the moral authority on who has family values and how those values are defined.
November 5, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
I am trying to figure out who is a bigger idiot Henry Brown or the fools who voted for him. No wonder our stae is viewed as a bunch of dumb, ignorant, backwards hicks.
November 5, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
No steve, and neither do you. I have an opinion though, just as everyone else does.
Let us be adults and state those opinions without personal attacks.
November 5, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
Goddess, I hope she wins.
November 5, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
A big thanks to all of you who ONCE AGAIN voted for the incumbents at the state and federal levels. Just remember to give yourselves a big pat on the back when the same incompetence and corruption is reported on this site in the future. We get the leadership we deserve...
November 5, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
@ RTC: "Let us be adults and state those opinions without personal attacks."
WTF?
RTC: "Anymore Botox injections and Ketner's face will freezeframe."
Not too adult there.
RTC: "...but this extremely liberal woman knows nothing about the family values..."
How would you know? Have you ever met her? Have you researched the work she has done throughout our state? Did you know the Governor Sanford asked her to be the head of Housing in his Cabinet?
Stop whining and climb back in your cave for the next 4 years. "Act like adults." You first!
No one has explained the 102 missing precincts from Charleston County yet.
November 5, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
steve, I meant personal attacks between posters.
Yes, she has had Botox, and that is her choice if she wants to risk losing all expression on her face. Nothing childish about that comment just a fact.
I'm not against her because of her political alliance, I just don't like her views.
FYI, I'm not whining, just stating an opinion as I said before. I'll go back in my cave if you come out of the closet. There, you started it, buddy, so there's your personal attack.
Have a great day.
November 5, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
aconnor (anonymous) says...
Odd thing is that the approval rating for Congress is lower than for Bush, yet we keep voting the same bozos into office. I think we are having trouble getting good candidates because of the primary process and the fact that you have to have tons of money to get your foot in the door. The primary process (dividing into parties) means that we typically get two extremes and no middle ground to vote for. How did we get to a point with Ketner v Brown when it seems that noone really cared for either one of them?
November 5, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
RTC: I came out of the closet a long time ago. You got a problem with that? Oh, btw I'm officially a Libertarian. Go ahead blast away. FYI: you are whining. I do agree about the Botox; some folks just can't get enough of it. At least Brown doesn't dye his hair. I like the white. Better than the Thurmond red.
9:48 and still 102 precincts not counted in Charleston County. Time for a re-count!
November 5, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Yee haw stuck with the same old useless POS in DC again. Yes openly gay, Ooooooo, the tough guys are nervous and pick the real important reasons not to vote for her. I guess the Henry Brown screaming she's a liberal and not much else sufficed for many in this area. No wonder it's last in everything.
November 5, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Alright, for all of you political nerds (I mean that in a good way!), I have a question:
Ok, say Ketner is right in her assertion that she still has a fighting chance BUT she concedes without the final votes being tallied. What happens if she IS declared by votes the winner AFTER she concedes?? Can she still serve or not since she conceded?
I aint the brightest crayon in the box politically but I'd rather ask the question than be all quiet and just feebleminded about it. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
November 5, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
Tammie, even she conceded and then found out that she won, she would still get the seat, she'd just look silly. That's why they never concede until all hope is lost.
Let me also add that I am not a nerd of any kind :)
November 5, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Elect a crook or gay? The choice isn't hard
November 5, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
The botox is real. I saw it line line to vote yesterday. Just the facts.
November 5, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Interesting, there are posters who 'warns' Americans against an openly gay woman. Hmmm
So let me get this straight serialmoon, an 'openly' heterosexual is preferable to an 'openly' gay person.
So:
Does this mean that you feel as long as a person is 'straight' he/she is good & moral? I mean let's take a look at this. Both Republican and Democrat and even Independent politicians have committed crimes, adultery, abused drugs and alcohol and even beat their spouses. There are 'straight' politicians who have abused their powers, have sold us out (banking bailout), created a cluster f-word of the GWOT and I could go on and on.
But as long as they are heterosexual it's okay right?
As long as you are 'straight' & Christian, you are an upstanding American citizen worthy of our vote, is that correct?
Pardon me if I don't subscribe to your political/personal ideology.
Sexual orientation, religious background and/or race/ethnicity play no part in my choice of politicians. I look at the ENTIRE background of the candidate and their stated platform.
I REFUSE to send back incumbents who do not fairly represent me or my ideals. I REFUSE to send back to Washington politicians who've abused their powers just because they are of a certain party, gender, race/ethnicity or religion.
Serialmooner, I respect your right to express your opinions on this board. I enjoy debating the issues with you and everyone else.
However, continuing to vote in the same fools that are smiling in your face and stabbing you in the back is incomprehensible to me.
Democrats and Republicans have for far too voted along party lines as opposed to their conscience out of fear of letting the 'other guy' win.
Well, guess what, as long as you people continue to vote as sheeple, the other guy WILL ALWAYS WIN!
November 5, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
"However, continuing to vote in the same fools that are smiling in your face and stabbing you in the back is incomprehensible to me."
As long as they are not gay, it's okay to some.
Good post as usual fig.
November 5, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
CB, you know if you were a nerd you'd still be one of my favorite posters! :-)
November 5, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
serialmooner,
I would rather be godless than an idiot such as yourself!
November 5, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
nerd??!?!!?
Did someone call out for me?
November 5, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Lol @ Figgy...one of my favorite nerds...lol :-)
November 5, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
:-P
November 5, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
Brown is now a tired, Republican congressman in a Congress dominated by Democrats under a dynamic young Democratic President. He was ineffective when the Republicans controlled everything. He'll be completely irrelevant now. All of the stimulus infrastructure spending that's going to be funded to support the economy will now be spent elsewhere. It was a huge tactical error for the Lowcountry. We'll become even less competitive. Income will continue to fall behind the national average and we'll have less talent to offer and people leave looking for better opportunities. Brown is now completely useless. Hopefylly Clyburn will remember the rest of the Lowcountry when he's having breakfast with Obama.
An utter waste of a seat in Congress that baffles those of us who remember Mendel Rivers, a conservative Democrat who took care of his district.
November 5, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whopper (anonymous) says...
It was impossible to like either one. Fortunately, they were not in my district. I may be wrong, but isn't the US House rep up for election every two years? If so, maybe someone a little bit more moderate and less cross-eyed can take him out in a couple of years. Good ridance to these two campaigns, that's for sure.
November 5, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ClaytonS (anonymous) says...
Doesn't really matter if you love or hate either candidate.
When you see SCVotes.org at:
http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Charles...
showing summary numbers for Charleston county of
Brown with 19,766 and Ketner with 28,055
and then look at the Charleston county site at:
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/depar...
numbers that show Brown with 116,269 and Ketner with 63,011
do you really trust the Charleston county machines or
any of the numbers they will give us.
Sent men to the moon, but almost 40 years later, SC still can't run an election without problems and be trusted to count the darn votes.
November 5, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
edwardh1 (anonymous) says...
I asked Brown several years ago to raise car gas mileage standards. He wrote back that it would be "bad for Detroit".
HE IS A PARTY LINE BUSH REPUBLICAN AND WILL NOT TAKE AN INDIVIDUAL STAND ON ANYTHING
November 5, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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