Fierce competitors pursue GOP Senate nomination (South Carolina)

The State ^ | 6/29/03 | Lee Bandy

[LdSentinal]

The Republican primary contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Fritz Hollings promises to be a real doozy.

Just the presence of former state Attorney General Charlie Condon, who has earned the reputation of being a political street fighter, makes it interesting.

"I like my chances," the Charleston native said.

Condon, no shrinking violet on the campaign stump, cannot be dismissed. He has a loyal following among Christian right activists, who make up a good hunk of the GOP primary electorate. He also enjoys solid support in the Lowcountry.

Condon believes there is strong sentiment out there for a good, battle-tested conservative who can go toe-to-toe with Hollings, should the senator decide to run again. Right now, that's a big if.

Other Republican challengers include U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.

Former U.S. Rep. Tommy Hartnett of Charleston is a maybe.

"I've had a rebirth in the back of my cranium," he says.

Hartnett came within a hair's breadth of defeating Hollings in 1992. He thinks he can do it this time.

"I've been amazed at the number of calls I've received from people, saying you've got as much name recognition as anybody," the erstwhile congressman said.

Hartnett sized up the GOP field, boasting that he's the only one who can beat Hollings who, he predicts, will run.

"DeMint can't win, and I haven't talked to anyone who thinks Condon can," he said. Hartnett dismissed the other two as unknowns.

"I've been approached to withdraw," McBride said, "but I'm not going to do that."

McBride would not identify the individual who came to him, but he said it was an Horry County state House member who had escorted Condon around the Grand Strand earlier.

DeMint is seen as the Bush administration choice for the nomination, a perception the Upstate congressman has tried to cultivate. But White House political operatives deny they are backing anyone.

Ravenel went to Washington in April to meet with officials at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Paul Dyck with the White House political operation. Ravenel says he got the impression the Bush people are neutral in this race.

"I was warmly received and encouraged," Ravenel said. "Based on that visit, I decided to go forward."

In May, Condon hired Basswood Research in Washington to conduct a statewide poll. It's the same firm used by Gov. Mark Sanford.

Of the 500 likely GOP primary voters surveyed, Condon led the field, getting 27 percent of the vote. DeMint received 19 percent. The rest were far behind in single digits. Forty-six percent were undecided.

Condon is clearly in the strongest electoral position at this time. He has run statewide three times -- twice for attorney general and once for governor. He has high name recognition.

A polarizing political figure who seems to thrive on controversy, Condon has a problem, however. He has high negatives -- 35 percent to be exact. Normally, candidates with negatives that high are toast.

If Hollings decides not to run, more Republicans are likely to jump into the fray, creating the potential for a real donnybrook. Wounds still haven't healed from the gubernatorial primary that attracted seven candidates and required a runoff. That lingering bitterness is reflected in the divisions in the General Assembly between those who backed Peeler and those who supported Sanford.

The Senate contest could turn nasty. It also could be very entertaining.

[Kuksool]

{Charlie Condon, who has earned the reputation of being a political street fighter, makes it interesting.}

This is the kind of conservative we need more of in the Senate. The Seante has too many RINOS who are too chummy with the RATS.

[JohnnyZ]

This is the kind of conservative we need more of in the Senate. The Seante has too many RINOS who are too chummy with the RATS.

He would be colorful and fun to have, but it's not like Jim DeMint isn't already 100% conservative. Condon could have vulnerabilities in this general election and in the future; better to have someone who won't tick people (voters) off without a good reason. 35% is a very high negative figure. I'd like to see that broken out by party and gender.

[Kuksool]

{35% is a very high negative figure}

I suspect that percentage is made up of people who wouldn't vote GOP anyway. The best conservatives were those who ticked liberal voters off. Think of Bob Barr and Jesse Helms. These two guys helped advance the conservative agenda more than any other politician cared to do. It is a shame that they're private citizens now. I really miss Jesse Helms's presence in the Senate. He was able to both stand up and outsmart Ted Kennedy and Co. Most of the current GOP Senators just what to appease Kennedy and Co. This is a shame.

However, I'm not going to throw a fit and call Jim DeMint a bloody RINO if he wins the GOP nomination. I'll be rooting for him to unseat Fitz Hollings. I just hope DeMint would recommend Charlie Condon for a judicial position on Federal Bench.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Not so much RINOs, but not enough Conservatives willing to drop trou and "pi$$ in the soup."

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

Some polling data in there for ya, Coop. :-)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I like Charlie Condon but think that DeMint has a better chance of winning.

[Impy]

"Hartnett sized up the GOP field, boasting that he's the only one who can beat Hollings who, he predicts, will run. "

"DeMint can't win, and I haven't talked to anyone who thinks Condon can," he said. Hartnett dismissed the other two as unknowns.

Better you, a guy who's been nowhere for 10 years than a current congressman and former statwide elected official, right.

What arrogance. I wonder what he will say when he comes in 3rd or 4th in the primary. Sour grapes and bitching that Demint or Condon "can't win" win not be appreciated.

[Gritty]

Any way we can get one of these fine candidates to run against Schmuckie Schumer up in New York?

New York accepts carpetbaggers, you know!