Condon wins Senate race poll, but Beasley's name bandied about [SC]

The Post and Courier (Charleston.net) ^ | 11/11/2003 | Schuyler Kropf

[JohnnyZ]

Former Attorney General Charlie Condon won Monday's Charles-ton County Republican Party straw poll of candidates in next year's U.S. Senate race, but the name of potential candidate David Beasley kept cropping up. Many party members said Beas-ley should get in the race, despite the baggage of losing the governor's office in 1998 after one term.

"I would think he'd be the real front-runner," Republican Vickie McCoy said at Monday's county convention, where long-time GOP activist Cyndi Mosteller was elected party chairwoman, defeating Charles Steinert.

Condon, of Sullivan's Island, collected 152 votes in the straw poll of the four Republicans running to succeed retiring Democrat Fritz Hollings. Condon was followed by local developer Thomas Ravenel with 119 votes; U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, 61 votes; and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, 44 votes. Beasley, who hasn't decided whether to run, collected two votes.

[JohnnyZ]

Registration required.

Beasley was defeated by Jim Hodges in a shocker over the Confederate flag (he endorsed its removal from the Statehouse dome) and the lottery (he opposed it).

What do SC Freepers think about Beasley's enduring popularity or lack thereof?

DeMint seems to be having a lot of trouble as a free trader. Condon's support seems pretty strong, and Revenel's surprisingly so.

[TheBigB]

I thought Jim DeMint was the Anointed One from the WH. What's goin' on there?

[Moose4]

I'm going to have real trouble voting for David Weaseley after the flag stunt. To me, it's not so much about the flag (I actually like the compromise they came up with about putting it at the Confederate Soldiers' Monument) but the fact that it shows Weaseley will backstab his base at the drop of a hat. You can't trust what he says. And he hasn't learned from getting pimpslapped by Uncle Jim Hodges.

}:-)4

[JohnnyZ]

Beasley is still only 46, and ironically beat ARTHUR Ravenel in the Republican primary for governor back in 94. Thomas Ravenel, 41, is the guy being interrogated by the cops (okay, it's a photo op). DeMint, 52ish, is the 4th district congressman. Condon, 50, was SC's first Republican AG since Reconstruction.

[samanella]

As I understand, Lowcountry folk will not vote for Pee Dees or Upstaters. There is already one Upstater in the Senate, so the Lowcountry is going to vote their own, not DeMint or Beasley. Take the poll in the Upstate, and DeMint wins. Just as long as it's a Republican, it don't matter. We add a seat and Fog Horn Leg Horn is history!

[JohnnyZ]

I thought Jim DeMint was the Anointed One from the WH.

Although DeMint has stressed his close ties to the White House, they have consistently denied taking sides in the primary.

[Kuksool]

***Charlie Condon won Monday's Charles-ton County Republican Party straw poll***

No surprise here. Condon is from Charleston.

I don't think Beasley accepting the Kennedy Profile in Courage award last year for opposing the Confederate flag will endure himself to South Carolina conservatives.

[No Dems 2004]

It seems to me that the GOP is favored to win SC, though the Dems keep claiming that Tennenbaum (spelling) is the candidate to be defeated. Personally, I think that's nonsense. Any idea how the GOP is standing against her these days, or is it too soon to tell?

[JohnnyZ]

It seems to me that the GOP is favored to win SC, though the Dems keep claiming that Tennenbaum (spelling) is the candidate to be defeated.

Yes and Yes. The GOP is favored, but Tenenbaum is leading in the polls. CW is that her support is soft, generated by an uncontroversial tenure as Super Ed, and that she'll be cut down to size when she has to talk about federal issues. But I'm still worried about our nominees, as DeMint (trade) and Condon (style) have vulnerabilities.

[Kuksool]

***Tenenbaum is leading in the polls.***

The lead is probably soley due to name ID. Still, DeMint and Condon had better get out and meet the voters.

[Kuksool]

As a Tarheel, how bad is the local backlash against President Bush in regards to job lossses in the textile industry?

[JohnnyZ]

It's hard to say. It's pretty bad in some places, I guess. Charlotte isn't a manufacting/textile center, so we've been spared for the most part. It hasn't helped that folks like Rep. Sue Myrick (R) have been running around saying "President Bush doesn't care about people like you", and "he just doesn't understand" to laid off textile workers. Thanks a lot, Sue. In response to my complaint, she said she hadn't intented her remarks to be published by the media, she was just speaking from the heart.

Folks blame trade 'cause it's an easy bogeyman, but for the most part they're right: if China and Vietnam didn't cheat on the free trade pacts we've made with them, textiles would be fine.

If trade were the only issue, they wouldn't vote Bush. Thankfully it's not. The Democrats are salivating at the chance of using it against Richard Burr, but of course Erskine is on record pimping Bill Clinton's trade deals while Burr voted against PNTR for China and all that.

[Kuksool]

Last year, Bowles ran on a platform of high tariffs and economic protectionism. As a result, Bowles carried the "Old South" areas. Whereas, Liddy Dole heavily carried the "New South" suburbs. I think the Burr vs Bowles race could have a similar result.

[Kuksool]

The key to victory for Richard Burr would be to carry Mecklenburg, Johnston, and Wake counties. If Burr can win those counties, then I don't see how Bowles could win.