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Tally in SC straw poll resumes; McCain even with Giuliani, Hunter SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Sen. John McCain pulled even with two of his Republican rivals when counting resumed Friday morning in a presidential straw poll in conservative Spartanburg County. Though most of the roughly 800 votes were counted on Thursday night, ballots tallied Friday morning weighed heavily in McCain's favor, said GOP county chairman Rick Beltram. The updated count put McCain in a dead heat with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and California Rep. Duncan Hunter. Beltram would not release any specific numbers and said a final tally...

The FOX television talking heads were gushing over the usual suspects- Mitt Romney, Rudy Gulliani and John McCain- when the results of the South Carolina Republican straw poll rolled in and left the pundits stuttering and speechless in mid sentence. In a surprise result not predicted by any of the national political commentators, California Congressman Duncan Hunterfinished second with 110 votes behind Rudy Gulliani's 123 votes with 71 of the 75 precincts reporting. Arizona Sen. John McCain was third with 86 votes, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 59 votes, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had 68 votes, and Arkansas Gov....

Presidential rivals grasp at straw-poll glory By AARON GOULD SHEININ asheinin@thestate.com FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani More photos Anonymous critics aim at Romney Spartanburg — Agnes Spong thinks she’s landed in political heaven. The lifelong Republican from Upstate New York retired to Spartanburg two years ago and quickly discovered she was among friends. “I think it was just about the greatest thing in the world,” Spong said Monday at Wade’s Restaurant prior to a campaign appearance by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Spong is not alone in thinking this Upstate bastion of Republicanism is the...

With 71 of 75 precincts reporting, Giuliani had garnered 123 votes. California Rep. Duncan Hunter was running in second place, with 110 votes, and Arizona Sen. John McCain at 86 votes, according to county GOP officials. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 59 votes, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had 68 votes and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rounded out the front-runners, with 18 votes.

WESTWOOD ONE LAUNCHES THE MONICA CROWLEY SHOW --New Program to Air Saturdays, Noon - 3 p.m. ET-- Beginning Saturday, April 1, 2006 New York, NY Monday, Mar 20, 2006 - Westwood One (NYSE: WON) is proud to announce the national launch of The Monica Crowley Show, the three-hour talk program hosted by author and news personality Monica Crowley. The show begins Saturday, April 1, 2006, and will air from noon to 3 p.m. ET. The Monica Crowley Show will debut on major market stations across the country including: WABC-AM New York, WTKK-FM Boston and WTNT-AM Washington DC. The show will...

When US President George Bush talks about his drinking days, he usually speaks in serious tones and often with a moral lesson attached, but he found a chance to laugh about them at the weekend. During a meeting he held at a BMW vehicle factory in South Carolina with plant workers and suppliers, Spartanburg Steel Products president Stephen Thies told the President his company had an affiliate that was the only American maker of beer kegs. "I quit drinking in '86, but I bet some of the people out here use the product," Mr Bush said. "I'm not going to...

Just over 10 years ago, when the US economy was in recession and Germany suffering from the post-unification surge of its currency, BMW startled itself - and the world - by opting to become the first European carmaker to produce vehicles on American soil. It chose to build its first non-German assembly plant in the bible-belt of the south, at Spartanburg, South Carolina, now the hub of a region that produces more cars than the "rustbelt" heartland of the US auto industry, around Detroit. After doubling output in the past three years and jobs in the past five, the German...

City rolls out red carpet for AME conference Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here. By Benny Smith Recent stories by this writer Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here. First AME Church will play host to the 125th annual conference Sunday through Sept. 28....