” Same goes for Karen Floyd (which looks worse in that she couldn’t take, as a Republican, an open statewide office).”
She lost by only 565 votes in 2006 for an office that usually elects Democrats (as Republicans are seen as anti-education in many quarters).
What’s so peculiar about this office in SC vs. GA. The GA GOP won the office in the ‘90s as one of its first breakthroughs, and have controlled it ever since, but in SC, we still have yet to win it (I don’t believe a Republican has ever held the office). I’m not sure it’s such a great idea that it is even elected, as the teacher unions will do whatever it takes to buy the office for the rodents. It really should be an office directly accountable to the Governor.
But as for Miss Floyd, I don’t know a whole lot about her. While I’d favor her in a rematch with the Democrat victor, the fact that she got fewer votes than the erratic Andre Bauer is not very reassuring. Besides, absent Sanford, Bauer, and Ravenel, there are still 5 other statewide Republicans (Mark Hammond, the Sec of State; Atty Gen Henry McMaster; Comptroller Richard Eckstrom; Adjutant General Stan Spears & AG Commissioner Hugh Weathers), all of whom would have a better claim to running for federal office.