1st District field taking shape

The field in the 1st Congressional District race could firm up soon as potential candidates begin to decide if they'll jump in now that U.S. Rep. Henry Brown has bowed out.

Most of the movement has been on the Republican side, where state Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, Charleston County Councilman Paul Thurmond and possibly others are looking at running.

State Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, ended his gubernatorial bid Tuesday, citing a lack of campaign funds, and he just as quickly squelched any talk that he would run for Congress instead.

"In politics you never want to say never, but I can't imagine doing something like that," Grooms said. "It would literally hurt to leave the Lowcountry and fly to Washington knowing that my family is behind."

State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, also said he wouldn't run. "I gave it a lot of consideration, but I'm not going to do it. At this stage in my life, it would be kind of a high price to pay with my family."

And state Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, said he has ruled it out. "I had three obstacles that I simply couldn't overcome," he said, including the time he would have to spend away from his family.

"I also don't know I'd care for going from serving as a medium to larger fish in a small pond to a very small minnow in a big pond."

Thurmond, a Charleston County councilman and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, said Tuesday he is setting up an exploratory committee to consider running.

"I will move forward with this exploratory process emboldened by the belief instilled in me by my father, Strom Thurmond, that public service is a privilege and an honor," he said. Thurmond already had announced that he would not seek re-election to his council post.

If he were to file, the Republican primary would feature sons of two South Carolina GOP legends.

Carroll Campbell, a son of the late Gov. Carroll Campbell, had joined the race months before Brown's announcement.

Campbell announced Tuesday that three former South Carolina GOP chairmen are backing him -- Van Hipp, George Graham and Greg Shorey. Campbell said he was humbled by their support.

"It is critical for Republicans to hold onto this seat so that we can counter Nancy Pelosi's agenda in Congress," he said.

Limehouse has said he was would first discuss the race with family and friends, and that he would "give the matter careful consideration."

Katherine Jenerette, a Republican from North Myrtle Beach, also has said she plans to run.

Democrats who already have announced they will run are Robert Burton of Mount Pleasant, Robert Dobbs of Georgetown and Dick Withington of Horry County.

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the nation.

Another Democrat, Charleston businesswoman and philanthropist Linda Ketner, who narrowly lost to Brown in 2008, indicated that Brown's departure would cause her to reconsider her previous announcement that she would not run.

"I have no plans to run, but with this development I'll take the time to consider it again," she posted in a Facebook message the day Brown left the race. "I don't want to make any snap judgments -- there are way too many of those in politics already."

Brown announced Jan. 4 that he wouldn't seek a sixth term in the district that covers parts of Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown and Horry counties.

Reach Robert Behre 937-5771 or rbehre@post andcourier.com.