(Ex Governor) Beasley bid for Senate expected (Beasley WILL Run For Hollings' Seat!)

Charlotte Observer ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | HENRY EICHEL

[Pubbie]

*Ping*!

Now we have a heavy hitter candidate in SC!

Right now we have very strong candidates in all the 5 Open Southern Senate seats!

If the WH can convince Harris to stay out of the race in Florida, then we could see the GOP gain all 5 seats this November.

[TheBigB]

If Beasley lost his re-election race for Governor, is he really a strong candidate?

[Pubbie]

Johnny, you should be especially happy the Beasley is in!

[JohnnyZ]

I wish we had more than that one poll to go on. I worry about DeMint 'cause he's from upstate and supports free trade, two things stupid South Carolinians (and there are many of them) are willing to vote against even if they agree with him on everything else. 'Course stupid South Carolinians could vote against Beasley because of the flag, too, but I don't think that's such a big deal any more. It took a perfect storm of events to get Beasley defeated in '98, and I think he'd win in '04 without much trouble.

[The Old Hoosier]

He polls strongest against Inez.

[Pubbie]

Even in the 1998 race, he still got 48% despite all of his problems.

I agree that he will win too.

[JohnnyZ]

If Beasley lost his re-election race for Governor, is he really a strong candidate?

See number 3. It took a strong Democrat year in '98, heavy black turnout, massive anti-Beasley spending by gambling interests, and fresh voter anger over the relocation of the Confederate flag to sweep Jim Hodges into office.

2004 will be a GOP year, there's no indication of strong black turnout, gambling won't be an issue, and the flag thing is over and has been resolved. Some people will hold grudges, but not enough to make a difference, I think.

News reports just indicate Beasley did, in fact, announce today that he's running, so it's officially official.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

If Beasley is a favorite of the Christian right vote in South Carolina, he may indeed be our best candidate. Who better to run when Howard "Job is my favorite book of the New Testament" Dean is on the ballot?

[TheBigB]

I'll take your word for it and cross my fingers. Wonder if DeMint might pull out and run for reelection to the House.

[Pubbie]

I'd suggest DeMint stay in the House now that Beasley is in - DeMint is a very good Conservative (He voted against the Prescription Drug bill).

He can build up seniority in the House for a long time rather than run against Beasley.

[Jan Hus]

Beasley is a RHINO.He lost to "Goober Hodges" who was dumped big time by Mark Sanford.He got a "Profile in Courage" award from the Kennedy School for being a "loser" and taught a course in "losing" up there at Harvard as a consolation prize.He's a neer do well opportunist who jumped parties to run for Governor in 1994 or 95.He'an empty suit at best!

[JohnnyZ]

DeMint term-limited himself. He's in this all the way, and without polling it's hard to tell what his upstate location and free trade stance will mean in terms of votes. It's all very well for us to guess at weaknesses and whatnot (as I've been doing), but the evidence is anecdotal and anecdotes can be very misleading.

So who knows, he could go all the way. Or Condon could. Or Ravenel. Or, as is my guess, Beasley.

[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.

[samanella]

Sanford will be a one-termer, too. He is losing strength in the Upstate. I hope Bob Inglis re-runs for Congress or Senate. He is the best of the best.

[JohnnyZ]

Sanford will be a one-termer, too.

Good one! Ha ha!

[republicanwizard]

If he is a friend of the Christian Right, then, when combined with residual affection African-Americans may have for his brave stand, he would easily sweep the field.

[Moose4]

Damn. That's all we need, David Weaseley. I thought this guy'd had a stake put through his political heart when he sold out on the flag issue and got dumped by a weak Jim "lottery lottery lottery lottery" Hodges in 1998.

Watch out for this guy. He makes "Zig Zag" Zell Miller look consistent.

}:-)4