Straw poll puts McMaster at top
AG tops Lt. Gov. Bauer by one vote
Brent Nelsen
Tim Dominick/The State/MCT
State Rep. Nikki Haley
Grooms
Gresham Barrett
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer
McMaster
SUMMERVILLE — Paul Bolen spoke of revival Friday night when he opened the Dorchester County Republican Party's fundraiser and gubernatorial stump meeting with an invocation.
He shared a verse from the Bible and helped the audience imagine businessman Bud Knight's barn-cum-convention-center, the night's venue, as a church revival tent.
"It's a communal prayer for God's mercies to be renewed when his people are in distress," Bolen, a Summerville financial adviser, said after reading Psalm 85:6.
Bolen's message set the tone for an evening in which five probable entrants in the 2010 race for the Republican nomination for governor alluded frequently to their distress — over the state of the economy, over the newly liberal direction of the Oval Office and Congress and over rifts within the party in the wake of Gov. Sanford's federal stimulus refusal. All five speeches promised, in their own way, a revival for the Republican Party in South Carolina.
The night ended with current Attorney General Henry McMaster edging out Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer by a single vote in a straw poll of 208 attendees. McMaster got 63 votes to Bauer's 62; U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett was third with 38; S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms, of Bonneau took 31; Furman University professor Brent Nelsen took 8; and S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley, of Lexington, who was not present, took 6.
Julie Anderson said the evening was a fundraiser for the party and a chance for prospective candidates to get a feel for the territory.
"This far out from the election, it gives the candidates an idea of where Dorchester County stands," said Anderson, chairwoman for the event.
Each speaker was given five minutes to make his case to the audience.
Barrett led off with a speech that stressed development of the state economy, bolstering of public education and promotion of alternative energy — against a backdrop of distaste for recent federal policies.
"The last year of my seven years [in Congress], I saw things I never thought I would see: runaway spending, fiscal indiscipline and government that's intruding in our life at every turn," Barrett said.
Barrett also mentioned improving community colleges, which he said would provide a skilled workforce for new jobs in the energy field.
"Create an environment where our young adults, our graduates … have the same opportunities they would have in Charlotte or Atlanta," Barret said.
Bauer pulled no punches in criticizing congressional spending and he emphasized the importance of creating a good environment for business.
"We've got to make sure that our laws are competitive, our taxation is competitive," Bauer said. He also emphasized his history as head of the state's Office on Aging and as a business advocate.
"We need a young person not only to sell South Carolina around the country, but around the world," Bauer said, referencing a recent trip to Dubai in which he courted investors for the state.
Grooms, recipient of a Friend of the Taxpayer Award, told the story of how his parents helped him work his way out of their 10-foot-wide mobile home and into a multimillion-dollar convenience store entrepreneurship.
"What an opportunity I got when I inherited what every American inherits: the chance to succeed," Grooms said. He expressed concern, however, that his children would not have the same opportunities due to government regulation of business.
Grooms boiled down political thought into two basic philosophies: one in which individual choice reigns supreme, and one in which government makes choices for mistake-makers.
"At some point, we've got to say we're no longer going to steal from our children," Grooms said.
McMaster stressed his experience, both in his current role and as a U.S. attorney under the Reagan administration, as one of his main qualifications.
"I respect them all," McMaster said of the other candidates. "But I've got to tell you that of all of them running, there's only one who has had executive experience."
McMaster, like several of the other candidates, stressed the centrality of employment in the upcoming election.
"The main job of the next governor of this state is jobs. That's the thing — it's economic development," McMaster said.
Nelsen, current chairman of Furman University's political science department, also spoke of attracting businesses to create new jobs, and he advocated innovation in public and charter schools.
"We have got the people and the energy and the parents ready to take up this challenge," Nelsen said.
"I've been teaching politics for 20 years, and now I've decided to jump in," he said on the floor during dinner.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
The Chinese will probably demand payment for America's debt, America will default, the Chinese will take us over and there will not even be a November 2010 election. We need fresh faces in politics. McMaster is old school and will not bring any change to the downtrodden Republicans. He is more interested in monitoring web surfing than rounding up aliens.
June 13, 2009 at 1:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
Henry McMaster in the lead? Even if this is a straw poll, the sad and scary part has some truth to it. How can this man be an effective Govenor when he has been a LOUSY, ineffective Atty. Gen? He has been so obsessed with trying to prosecute Craig's List that he has had LITTLE or NO time to handle the affairs or concerns with the current office he holds. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has been a total DISGRACE to this state and the office he currently occupies. This guy has NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW! Most citizens in this state would be serving time for what this guy has committed, but as always we have the "Good OL Boy" network that stills calls the shot! He feels he is ABOVE the law! S.C. voters had the opportunity to vote him out of office the last election, but they are so BLINDED and obsessed with anyone and anything being a republican with an R by the name that they thwart any opportunity to redeem themselves and start out fresh and renewed. It's a real SHAME because S.C. will CONTINUE to be at the bottom in just about everything in comparison with the other 49 states! It will be a REPEAT of Mark Sanfraud(no typo error)all over again, except this time it maybe WORST!
June 13, 2009 at 1:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
stanish, you hit the nail on the head.
June 13, 2009 at 4:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
KidYendor, How much did we (the US) spend getting the Japs off the Chinese in WWII? Did we send them a bill? I doubt it. Then lets deduct that expense, adjusted for inflation, from what we have borrowed. It might mean they owe us.
June 13, 2009 at 4:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Is this the same joke of an AG who supported the blatantly unconstitutional "I believe" license plates?
Just when you think our state can't sink any lower the bottom of the garbage can gets scraped and a new low is reached.
This guy is a joke! God, talk about the blind leading the stupid. Only in a state like SC would this idiot have ever even made it to AG let alone the governors office.
I guess our state can get worse after all and McMaster is just the one to lead the way!
June 13, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
You're exactly RIGHT @realamerican. Just when you think it can't get any WORSE, it's a real possibility it can. One would hope that S.C. would want to redeem itself of this type of ____, you fill in the blank. The truth of the matter it will be either McMaster or Bauer. S.C. will continue to be the JOKE and the laughing stock of the nation. Even though they are aware of the baggage these two CLOWNS possess, it still will not matter to them. They will continue to show their poor judgement and be the object of RIDICULE and scorn! Only in S.C. can this happen.
June 13, 2009 at 5:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
(LMAO)
G-man Mike obviously had second thoughts about joining the party becoming an R-man.
Mikey just went home and back to bed. Good man that G-man Mikey.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/20...
Hey can someone order Mikey a pizza?
June 13, 2009 at 5:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
oh freaking joy, another establishment politician. He will not win!
June 13, 2009 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
onetwomany (anonymous) says...
I agree with each of you, it is time for us as citizens of SC to come together. This is my first post, only because what I've read in the past made me sick to my stomach. Util we stop fighting each other and take the fight against the "Good Ole Boys" as stated, we'll continue to lose the battle.
June 13, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Commonman (anonymous) says...
He would make the Democrats happy and would put them in a nice position for November. There would definitely be a choice between McMaster, Vincent Sheheen, and Mullins McLeod.
June 13, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
Is it true that the Democrats held a victory party after reading this article?
June 13, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
onetwomany (anonymous) says...
Robert Ford falls right in line with the rest of the "Good Ole Boys" of our political system. Where are the young politicians with some new and fresh ideas. We need someone to implement a strategic plan that focus on today's issues not yesterday's. Perhaps we may need to benchmark what the other forth-nine states are doing.
June 13, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jim_Isle (anonymous) says...
Y'all don't seem to have much "corporate memory" going there, do you? I would say that if you bothered to look it up, you'd find McMasters' decisions and rulings kept a lot of garbage from being law. That's one-up from the rest. Consider that some of the "good ole boys" really ARE good at their jobs.
June 13, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Posted by Jim_Isle
Consider that some of the "good ole boys" really ARE good at their jobs.
--------------------------------------------------------
Oh really? Name one and explain why if they are "good" at their jobs why our state is last in the nation in just about everything that matters.
June 13, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I am profoundly underwhelmed by the choices so far.
June 13, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
Considering they started the night off with a bible verse and pretending the building was a church, I hope none of them are ever in charge of anything.
June 13, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
McMaster aide jokes that escaped ape is the presidents wife's ancestor.
This should go over well. I wonder if the comment was made at the revival meeting as well?
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp...
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A state Republican activist has admitted to and apologized for calling a gorilla that escaped from the Riverbanks Zoo Friday an "ancestor" of First Lady Michelle Obama.
A screen capture of the comment, made on the Internet site Facebook, was obtained by FITSNews, the website of South Carolina politico Will Folks.
The image shows a post by an aide to state Attorney General Henry McMaster describing Friday morning's gorilla escape at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo.
Longtime SCGOP activist and former state Senate candidate Rusty DePass responded with the comment, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."
DePass told WIS News 10 he was talking about First Lady Michelle Obama.
June 13, 2009 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Oh god. Just saw it on CNN as well.
Looks like McMaster's friends are going to give the nation another good laugh at our states expense.
June 13, 2009 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
DePass is jealous that Michelle is smarter than him and has 10 fold the class.
June 13, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PoliGadfly (anonymous) says...
Jokes about Obama's wife not ok, but Letterman's joke about Palin's daughter is Ok? hmm. I hope I don't confuse the two.
June 13, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Palin is barely a lady, let alone the first lady.
If you don't see anything different between blatant racism and comedians flat joke there is something wrong with you.
June 13, 2009 at 6:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
Letterman was clearly wrong. Momma Palin put herself in the crosshairs when she got into politics. Her daughter should not be included. I hope Letterman is proud of himself. What a big man.
June 13, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheTruthFighter (anonymous) says...
Since the Republicans have no good candidate and the Democrats have no legit candidate, I think I will run - Shoot, I can't do any worse than these clowns.
June 13, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
unrealamerican, once again, twice in one day, I have to agree, stupid comment about Ms Obama. But it does seem it is a double standard when it comes to Palin & her family.
And we were told that during the clinton years, chelsea clinton, was off limits.
At least she is a Governor with real executive experience.
June 13, 2009 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
David Letterman did APOLOGIZE,repeat,APOLOGIZED! You will NEVER get an apology from Sarah Palin. How soon do we forget? Remember Campaign 2008 when this incompetent woman was selected unfortunately by Sen. McCain to be his V.P. choice? Remember at her rallys you had Racist, Rednecks,Aryans,Klan, you name it referring to Sen. Obama at the time as Porch Monk--y, saying the Zoo wants you, the White House will remain White, referring to him as a Muslim Traitor, everything Racial under the sun? This woman and I use the term loosely, NEVER at one time silence them or admonish them. She heard all the NEGATIVITY and even gave her infamous smile as to say you're RIGHT and I condone it. Sen. McCain showed CLASS by attacking and silenced such negativity. I don't say Letterman is WRONG because she show cased her own family in the spotlight by pretending to be such a righteous far right zealot. The far right gave more excuses and even upheld Bristol Palin as a ROLE MODEL! Can one even imagine if this was Chelsea Clinton for example and God forbid if Pres. Obama's daughter was this age and in this unfortunate situation. Sarah Palin is an Evil, Resentful, Mean-Spirited, Vindicative with NO CLASS! I'm not surprised at all by McMaster and his aides stooping to such a low level! Most of the White South Carolinian's espouse and harbor their same views and sentiments!
June 13, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
stanish, that is a broad vile dipped brush you use to paint "most" white SC residents with. So outside of this group you disike, the rest are as pure as the driven snow? If conditions here are as bad as you state, and you feel powerless to evoke change, why are you still here? There must be another locale that is 100% tolerant of all things to which you can move.
June 13, 2009 at 9:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
Posted by CNSYD on June 13, 2009 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stanish, that is a broad vile dipped brush you use to paint "most" white SC residents with.
I did NOT meant to say Most White South Carolinians, just those who espoused the same views of McMaster aides.
June 13, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.