Posted on 05/20/2003 8:59:44 AM PDT by Pubbie
Party primary challenge tests Democrats' strength BY SCHUYLER KROPF Of The Post and Courier Staff Two weeks into his new job, S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin sees a mix of dark clouds and silver linings.
The clouds include the anticipated cost of more than $2 million to conduct a February presidential primary, and the strong possibility that incumbent U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings may not run again.
The silver lining is that Democrats can save money by using paper ballots in the party primary and then draft 4,000 unpaid volunteers to run it. In that case, the cost might drop significantly, possibly to $350,000 or less.
Also, Hollings has given Erwin clearance to explore recruiting someone else to run for the Senate seat. "I have some names in my head, but nothing committed to paper," Erwin said last week, adding, "We can call them when we get some commitment from the senator, either way."
Coming off the high from the party's presidential debate that drew all nine candidates to the state, Erwin inherits a state headquarters operation under less than ideal conditions. The party raised more than $300,000 during its May 3 debate weekend and the festivities surrounding it. After paying off just a few of its debts, including $20,000 to rent and put together the debate stage for ABC News at the University of South Carolina, it is left with about $225,000 in the bank.
That comes as the party headquarters also needs to be re-staffed after two of four key officers, political director Will Drake and finance director Ashlie Bagwell -- recently left to take jobs in other states.
The state party last year scored a publicity coup when the Democratic National Committee eased its calendar rules and allowed South Carolina to hold a first-in-the-South primary that would be the third big vote in the nation, behind Iowa and New Hampshire. The change was made when Democrat Jim Hodges still held the governor's seat and before there was a financial plan to pay for a party primary. Now the realities of responsibility are starting to surface.
Lacking a major influx of cash, Erwin's plan is still to run a 7 a.m.-7 p.m. primary election in all 2,005 precincts statewide, but he hopes that 4,000 Democratic faithful will be interested enough to work the polls on a Tuesday.
"Frankly, it would be easier if we were flush with cash to write the check" and have outside accountability, he said. But he added there "just may be better things to do with the money." Not having to pay trained election staff will save the most cash, he said, but it also could be difficult to organize a primary in counties with low resources and poor party organization.
It wouldn't be the first time that volunteer election workers have been used for a presidential preference primary; the Republicans did it in 2000.
Erwin doesn't think using paper ballots will create any large-scale credibility problems since there is only one issue to be decided, the winner of the primary.
One idea that has surfaced is to get the candidates to pay more of the cost of conducting the primary, but Erwin doesn't plan to ask them since they already have been asked to pony up what could amount to a $4,000 filing fee to get on the ballot. Charging any additional fee, he said, would be electoral extortion. "I think that would violate the spirit of the primary," he said.
Jay Reiff, former campaign manager for Hodges, said the party needs to do more than hope it can put a primary together. Everyone who has a stake in bringing the Democratic Party back to power has to act, he said.
"To be successful, they will need to reach out and work to recruit new volunteers," said Reiff, now an advisor to Gov. Mike Easley of North Carolina.
"But they'll have a great product to sell," he added. "The presidential primary will generate excitement. They need to tap that excitement. The presidential primary could be a real godsend for the South Carolina Democratic Party."
As far as where to go from here, Kevin Geddings, a former consultant to Hodges, said the party may want to consider a 10-year rebuilding plan because it may take at least that long to become competitive in the state again.
Geographically, the only region of South Carolina where Democrats appear to have a chance to cut into Republican leads is on the coast, he said, pointing specifically to Charleston County.
"Clearly we cannot win statewide and continue to be crushed along the coast," Geddings said. "The coast is where voters at least will consider a Democratic candidate. That's not an option in the western part of the state," around Greenville and Spartanburg, he added. "Those voters are lock-stock Republicans for at least another generation."
Geddings suggested building up the Democratic base steadily, by winning county races here and there. He pointed to moderate areas around Charleston and Myrtle Beach as fertile ground.
Another chance for Democratic gains, Geddings said, is making appeals after budget cuts in state government become a reality in more well-to-do neighborhoods, such as in Mount Pleasant.
"Once these budget cuts are actually implemented, then families in suburbia ... who drop off their kids in grade schools where there's one teacher and 35 kids, that will be our opportunity," he said.
Reiff said Democrats should bide their time and not expect miracles overnight, or even by 2004.
"The last Democratic presidential nominee to win South Carolina was Jimmy Carter in 1976," Reiff said. "Joe Erwin is very talented, but it would be unfair to expect him to turn this trend around in one year.
"The immediate problem is all the wrong lessons are being learned from last year's election," he added. "The Democratic Party's problem is not with black voters. The problem is with white voters. The best way to build a strong party is to recruit strong candidates at the local level."
Here is the quote that is most interesting regarding Hollings:
"Also, Hollings has given Erwin clearance to explore recruiting someone else to run for the Senate seat. "I have some names in my head, but nothing committed to paper," Erwin said last week, adding, "We can call them when we get some commitment from the senator, either way."
-PJ
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