Candidates eye basics

NEWBERRY — The state spent the summer months mired in controversies, but the five GOP candidates vying for governor steered clear of clashes Tuesday during a 90-minute debate here.

Instead, the candidates focused on the economy, job creation, taxation and education.

A question about whether the candidates would serve more in the likeness of Gov. Mark Sanford or Gov. Carroll Campbell drew laughter from the Republican audience of more than 400, but Sanford's sex scandal and subsequent fallout barely drew a mention.

Likewise, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson — whose 'You lie' outburst to the president this month was lampooned on late night television — was only mentioned in passing.

And each of the candidates agreed that the matter of the Confederate flag has been settled and the flag should stay put, flying above the soldier's monument at the steps of the Statehouse.

The candidates — 3rd Congressional District Rep. Gresham Barrett of Westminster, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer of Charleston, state Sen. Larry Grooms of Bonneau, state Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington, and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster of Columbia — stressed the ways they would work to sell the state to companies, spoke directly to small businessmen and agreed on the needs for lower taxes.

What they didn't do was draw sharp differences from one another or exchange any barbs.

McMaster showed off his quick wit; Grooms, his knowledge of legislative history and politics. Bauer stood out for a crisp television delivery with concise and on-point answers and consistent eye contact with the cameras.

Haley emphasized her fight for on-the-record voting in the House and Senate, a position that helped put her on the state's political map. Barrett highlighted his diverse resume as an Army veteran, serving a stint in the Statehouse and four terms in Congress and owning a small business, Barrett Furniture.

On economic development, Barrett stressed the need for infrastructure improvements to better conditions in South Carolina rural and poorer counties.

He has a little more than $975,000 on hand, according to the latest campaign disclosure forms filed in July.

Bauer, who has not officially announced his candidacy, emphasized his work on economic development as lieutenant government.

He said future economic development efforts need to focus on a 'Carroll Campbell approach' that will bring all the stakeholders to one place to put to rest any hesitation a company might have, such as having Santee Cooper on hand to guarantee power needs and city officials on hand to assure the company that permits will be available when it needs them.

He has more than $570,000 in the bank from his lieutenant governor run. He is a real estate businessman.

Bauer earlier called for Sanford to step down. If the governor does so immediately or if he is impeached before late October, Bauer said he would drop his intention to run for the top job and serve out the rest of Sanford's term.

Grooms talked about the need to improve the delivery of public education by changing the 'crazy way education is funded in South Carolina.' Grooms, like all the other candidates, said he supports tax credits and vouchers for private school.

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'Education funding is like the Holy Grail. You can't touch it,' Grooms said. To do so would draw critics who assign the label of anti-children, he said.

Grooms, who had $3,500 on hand in July, is a 12-year veteran of the state Senate and current chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He owned several convenience stores but sold them and now devotes his time to legislative duties.

Haley said she is the daughter of immigrant parents who taught her about the blessings of life in United States and reminded her of it daily. She said the state needs to focus on business-friendly legislation and comprehensive tax reform, including the end of corporate income taxes.

'We need to make sure we are competitive on every level,' Haley said.

Haley had about $194,000 in the bank. She has served in the House since 2004 and works as an assistant executive director of the Lexington Medical Foundation.

Asked how he would help curb rising tuition costs as governor, McMaster said the state needs to make sure students are literate, concentrate on how to get high schools students to graduate and to graduate prepared.

Educators need to be accountable, he said, and the state needs to provide incentives to teach in rural and poor counties and by merit pay for teachers.

South Carolina needs to continue its long-standing tradition of fighting back against edicts sent by Washington that aren't right for the state, McMaster said. Asked if the state should form a militia to do that, McMaster responded, 'I wouldn't fight it with bullets. But I would fight with everything we have.'

McMaster had $650 in the bank, according the July disclosure forms. He has served as state attorney general since 2003, and chaired the state Republican Party from 1993 to 2002.

Democrats vying for governor are the Rev. Amos A. Elliott, Sen. Robert Ford and attorney Mullins McLeod, all of Charleston; state Education Superintendent Jim Rex; Columbia attorney Dwight Drake; and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.

Sheheen had the most money among Democrats on hand, according to the July campaign-disclosure forms, with about $460,000 in the bank. McLeod had about $156,000, with Drake next

at nearly $109,000. Rex had a little more than $9,000, Ford had $31 and Elliott has no records on file.

Democrats have not yet announced plans for a debate.

The 90-minute Republican debate came more than a year from the 2010 election and about nine months before the party primaries.

The debate, hosted by the Laurens County and Newberry County Republican parties, included a high-tech element. Voters across the state watched live online and submitted questions throughout.

Columbia television anchor Judi Gatson of WIS moderated.

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