Beasley to address potential Senate run (SC)

thestate.com ^ | 01/10/04 | LEE BANDY

[KQQL]

Former Republican Gov. David Beasley has scheduled a news conference next week to discuss his potential candidacy for U.S. Senate.

“I’m going to make an announcement as to where I am in the decision-making process,” he said.

Beasley declined to elaborate.

He has been considering the race for several months.

Robert Adams, who served as Beasley’s campaign manager when he ran for governor in 1994, said he would be “shocked” if Beasley did not offer for the Senate. “My expectations are he will run.”

The news conference is tentatively set for Wednesday in Columbia.

Richard Quinn, a Columbia-based consultant retained by Beasley, said the former governor would be working on a statement over the weekend.

“I’m hopeful he’s going to be a candidate,” Quinn said. “We’d certainly have a winning candidate.”

Beasley could announce formation of an exploratory committee and delay a formal announcement until later.

Beasley would be joining a crowded field that includes U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, former state Attorney General Charlie Condon, Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.

The leading Democrat in the race is state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum.

[KQQL]

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[Pubbie]

Great!, with Beasley running, we will have 5 strong Candidates running in NC, SC, LA, FL (If Bush can get Harris to drop out in favor of Martinez) and GA.

[KQQL]

SC:
The poll showed none of the GOP candidates could decisively
beat Democratic candidate Inez Tenenbaum.
Beasley 45% v Tenenbaum 35%
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/local/7465708.htm

[KQQL]

Quinn's poll question on primary runoff choices is especially significant, Thigpen said. It shows Condon barely edging DeMint 23 percent to 22 percent, with 55 percent undecided. But Beasley beats Condon 44 percent to 28 percent and DeMint 44 percent to 24 percent, while the undecideds drop drastically.

And in a separate poll of a cross-section of 300 registered voters, Beasley beat Tenenbaum 45 percent to 35 percent.

[JohnnyZ]

Robert Adams, who served as Beasley’s campaign manager when he ran for governor in 1994, said he would be “shocked” if Beasley did not offer for the Senate. “My expectations are he will run.”

I would be shocked as well, after he organized a three month "spontaneous" Draft Beasley movement include a parade!

[BroncosFan]

Apparently, the White House is no longer pushing DeMint. And Condon just seems like a bit of a retread. If Beasley plays his cards right, it would be a stunning resurrection.

[Kuksool]

I like Condon too. We need to elect strong conservatives to the Senate. Although, I would not object to either Beasley or DeMint being the GOP nominee

[Pubbie]

Actually DeMint is very conservative - he voted against the prescription drug bill.

[Kuksool]

The problem with DeMint is that he's too much of a free trader in a state that has suffered the loss of many textile jobs to China.

[Pubbie]

Good point.

[NeoCaveman]

Isn't Beasley the governor who took down the Confederate flag because Jesus told him to????

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

If I'm correct, the reasons Beasley lost his re-election bid for governor (the Confederate flag, video poker) won't be in play this time around. Plus he seems to have good name recognition.

[Clintonfatigued]

Well, I hope that South Carolinians have forgiven and forgotten David Beasley's history of flip-flopping and indicisiveness. And Beasley needs to say that while he doesn't agree with video poker and other forms of gambling, he will respect the peoples' decision and make no effort to stop it. Another problem is Beasley is from the Florence area in northeastern S.C., rather than the Charleston area. But perhaps his name I.D. will be enough to win.

[Pubbie]

"Another problem is Beasley is from the Florence area in northeastern S.C., rather than the Charleston area."

I thought Beasley was from Charleston?

[Pubbie]

thanks for clearing that up.

[Clintonfatigued]

When David Beasley was in the state legislature (1978-92), he represented state House district 56, which is in Chesterfield and Darlington counties.