Sheheen calls for harbor deepening

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen dropped by Waterfront Park on Tuesday to criticize his Republican opponent for not doing more to ensure that South Carolina gets $400,000 to deepen Charleston Harbor.

South Carolina's congressional delegation has so far been unable to secure an earmark to study deepening the harbor to 50 feet. Other East Coast ports already have their earmarks.

'Because of unfortunate political bickering in our own delegation, we have not been successful yet,' Sheheen said. 'It is important for the next governor to take a stand on this issue immediately.'

Sheheen said state Rep. Nikki Haley, the Republican candidate, should join him in urging the state's congressional delegation to secure the money.

Haley campaign spokesman Rob Godfrey said she and Sheheen have different views on how to create jobs.

'He thinks that stimulus packages and massive debt from Washington, D.C., are the answer, while she believes we need to get government out of the way, lower taxes and let the private sector turn our economy,' he said.

Godfrey said Haley considers the port vital to the state's economy, 'and whether the funding comes from the federal government, state government or elsewhere, ensuring long-term strength of our port system will be one of Nikki's top priorities as governor.'

Both campaigns are trying to bruise the other by tying them to someone else. Haley's camp pressed Sheheen again Tuesday, asking whether he agrees with Democratic President Barack Obama's opposition to Arizona's new immigration law.

Meanwhile, Sheheen's camp is portraying Haley as a Gov. Mark Sanford clone whose strict conservative ideology led him to fight receiving $700 million in federal stimulus funds, money that came to the state only after lawmakers overrode Sanford's veto.

'With record high unemployment and a broken government in South Carolina, now is not the time for ideological platitudes or partisan purity or philosophical wanderings,' Sheheen said of the port earmark.

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'Now is not the time for more of what we've seen with the Sanford and the Haley shuffle. Now is the time for a governor who will take action who will get things done for our state. Either you're willing to do what it takes to create jobs in South Carolina or you're not.'

Charleston businessman Robert New, former S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bob Royall and state Rep. David Mack III, D-North Charleston, joined Sheheen at Waterfront Park.

Sheheen also appeared before the Rotary Club of Charleston. The club also had invited Haley, but Godfrey said she wasn't able to attend because of a scheduling conflict.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.