Dem faithful hear possible candidates

COLUMBIA — Democrats dove into the 2010 political season Friday by introducing the party's loyalists to three potential gubernatorial candidates: Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod, House Minority Leader Harry Ott of St. Matthews and Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.

The men, who talked mostly strategy and called out lessons they would learn from Gov. Mark Sanford and President Barack Obama, sat down for a friendly discussion at the Inn at University of South Carolina that helped kick off the annual Dem Weekend events.

--McLeod, a Walterboro native who has lived in Charleston since 1998, said Democrats need to engage more people, but they can't act like Republicans and expect to beat Republicans. He is running on the need to put people back to work, offer high-quality education and provide affordable health care.

The time to win the governorship is critical because of the forthcoming redistricting, he said. If left up to the Republicans, they would draw Democrats completely out of power, McLeod said.

Like Obama, the state's Democrats need to tap new resources. A competitive primary will help turn out voters, and it's key to have a nominee who will fight back with the Republicans and is optimistic enough to turn the debate around, he said.

--Ott, who is mulling whether to run, has served in the state House since 1999 and works as a farmer. He said priority No. 1 is putting people back to work.

Democrats need a candidate who can relate to everyday people and is a person with strong faith, family values, allegiance to public schools and South Carolina values such as gun rights, Ott said. He said he has been married for 32 years, attended the same church for 57 years, is a member of the National Rifle Association and spent 12 years on the Calhoun County School Board.

Democrats need a candidate who, like Sanford, can connect with people, Ott said. The candidate should be wise enough to preempt Republican's attacks, he said.

--Sheheen, a lawyer and former prosecutor who has served in the Legislature since 2001 and is now in his second Senate term, said this election is a transformative event for the state. Democrats need a leader who can teach the positive role government can play in people's lives, someone who is able to transform economic strategy and who can go on offense when it comes to public education.

The party must use race, in the way a room of Democrats actually looks like South Carolina, as a strength, Sheheen said. People are looking for someone they can trust and believe in, he said. They need to capitalize on the spirit Obama left behind and learn from Sanford's ability to set the tone.

Also in the race are Sen. Robert Ford and the Rev. Amos Elliott, both of Charleston. They were invited but didn't attend.

The state Republican Party will hold its convention May 16 in Columbia. U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett of Westminster and Furman University political scientist Brent Nelsen are in the running on the GOP side. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Attorney General Henry McMaster also are expected to announce soon.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.