Graham seems to have advantages as showdown with Sanders nears ("Seems", hell! It's in the bag!)

The Times and Democrat (SC newspaper) ^ | November 2, 2002 | AMY GEIER EDGAR, AP Writer

[wimpycat]

COLUMBIA -- Rep. Lindsey Graham appears to have all the advantages heading into Tuesday's election to replace retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, observers say.

Graham, R-S.C., has led his Democratic opponent, Alex Sanders, in various polls. And while the margins vary, political scientists say Graham has a major asset in the form of support from popular President George W. Bush.

Graham also has tied himself closely to Thurmond, a Southern icon who after 48 years is the nation's oldest and longest serving senator.

It appears to be Graham's race to lose, said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen.

"The polls have been all over the place, but I feel more comfortable in saying you've got to give Congressman Graham a right substantial edge going in," Thigpen said. "He's got too many assets on his side."

Those assets include the backing of Bush, who has campaigned on Graham's behalf, most recently at a rally in Columbia on Oct. 24. Graham also appears in television commercials with the president.

Involving Bush in the campaign is "a very sound strategy for Graham, simply because of the popularity of George Bush in the state of South Carolina. He is certainly running on George Bush's coattails," said College of Charleston political scientist Bill Moore.

In addition to visits from the president and top national Republicans, Graham has more money than Sanders. Campaign finance reports show Graham ended the quarter ending Sept. 30 with about $2.8 million, while Sanders was left with $819,000.

Graham, 47, also is recognized more easily by the public. The Republican was in the national spotlight as a House prosecutor during President Clinton's impeachment.

Whatever the polls say, it could be perceived that Graham is in the lead simply by the actions of the Sanders campaign, Moore said. The 64-year-old Democrat -- a former legislator, ex-judge and retired president of the College of Charleston -- has gone on the attack in recent debates.

"Normally when you see that type of aggressiveness in a campaign, it's an indication that the candidate is trailing," Moore said. "If you saw yourself with a comfortable lead, you would not really change your strategy because changing your strategy might threaten that lead."

Libertarian Victor Kocher and Constitution Party candidate Ted Adams also are running for the seat.

The key to a win will be voter turnout, observers agree.

Sanders, who stumbled early in the race because of low name recognition among potential voters, has fervent followers and it's essential to get all of them to the polls, Thigpen said. However, he says, "I never really thought there were enough of them."

Along with turnout, the candidates also must appeal to swing voters -- blue collar whites and professional women, Moore said.

To that end, Sanders' TV ads remind viewers he's a father and husband, a ploy the single Graham has stayed away from. Sanders also has been quick to solicit support from a handful of Republicans in an attempt to show his bipartisan appeal.

Sanders remains optimistic about his campaign in the final days.

"I feel great," he said, citing a poll by a Columbia television station that showed him closing the gap between him and Graham. However, Sanders acknowledged that "polls are very volatile at this time in the campaign."

Graham was very confident Tuesday as he campaigned with Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Sanford, also a former U.S. House member.

"I feel like I'm winning," Graham said. "I'm not beating up on (Sanders). I'm talking about what I want to do. I can't turn on the TV without the Democratic Party or some liberal special interest group for my opponent knocking my head off.

"The reason I'm winning is I'm talking about change that's good -- saving Social Security, making the tax cuts permanent, helping the president win the war on terrorism."

[wimpycat]

The author is definitely trying to downplay Graham's obvious lead, but other than that it's a pretty informative article.

While the outcome of so many races is unsure, it's nice to read about one that is, for all intents and purposes, a sure thing. God would have to personally tell Bob Jones, III that Jesus would have voted Democrat for Graham to lose this race.

[Clemenza]

My sister in Simpsonville usually votes 'rat. Even if she did so here, it would do little to change a Graham victory (much like her vote for the Goreon in '00).

[Realm Weekly]

<> That would be interesting but highly improbable... considering that Sanders is supported by liberal Hollywood demonic scum (Streisand, Redford). Besides, Jones wouldn't have much influence seeing that most sensible South Carolina Christians ignore him.

[wimpycat]

Update: Just found this on Graham's campaign website:

The Charleston Post and Courier endorses Graham!

Considering that Alex Sanders was the President of the College of Charleston for a number of years, this is a real boon to the Graham campaign. I was wondering if the Post and Courier was going to endorse anyone at all.

[L.N. Smithee]

Graham has a place in my heart as one of the House Managers in the Clinton impeachment, but my favorite among the questioners on the House Judiciary Committee was the one who didn't get to be a manager -- lame duck South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis. Inglis didn't beat around the bush, maybe because he had nothing to lose. He put the direct question "Did [Clinton] lie?" to Greg Craig and the rest of the shameful Clinton apologists, and then watched them squirm like hemorrhoid sufferers who mistook Ben-Gay for Preparation H.

[VOA]

Graham seems to have advantages as showdown with Sanders nears
("Seems", hell! It's in the bag!)

Almost as good as the line I heard on a BBC World News profile on Fritz Mondale.
The obviously unbiased reporter said something to the effect that
"Mondale just couldn't pull off the victory to become President in 1984".

And it wasn't said as a humorous aside.
Just another example of why I routinely thing that all the "journalists" from Pravda
and Izvestia are now working in the USA and Western Europe.

[WOSG]

A key excerpt, a reminder of why we should vote for Republicans in ALL U.S. Senate races:

The president's homeland security bill, for example, has been a pre-election casualty primarily as a result of organized labor's objections and influence on the Democratic majority.

But the most regrettable result has been the refusal of the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee to even allow votes on the president's nomination of three qualified judges who happen to be Southern conservatives. A prime example is South Carolina's own U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd, supported both by Sen. Thurmond and Democrat Sen. Ernest F. Hollings for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The handling of the nomination was so grievous that Sen. Thurmond returned to the Senate floor after his formal farewell to complain bitterly about his ill treatment at the hands of the committee. Specifically he said he had been lied to by the leadership who had promised there would at least be a vote on the Shedd nomination. The votes on the other two conservative nominations were strictly along party lines.

In the larger picture, Mr. Graham makes the point, and it's well taken, that there is one vote on which the senators will always toe the party line. That's the organization of the Senate.

To the winner of that organizational vote, which will come shortly after the election, will go the committee chairmanships and a critical edge. Certainly the Republicans have played the partisan game in the past, but not to the extent we are seeing now on critical judicial nominations.

According to a GOP report, the total tally of Bush appointments confirmed to the district and circuit benches stands at only 61 percent. But that's not the real rub. The more powerful circuit nominations have been caught in a buzz saw. That confirmation rate is just 43 percent. A look back as far as John F. Kennedy's administration by Senate Republican researchers showed that most presidents had more than 90 percent of their nominees confirmed in the first two years, with only one at 82 percent.

[wimpycat]

Yeah, I know about it--apparently they've been hinting for years that he's gay, based on nothing more than the fact he's single and apparently doesn't flaunt his dates. There is not one single solitary shred of evidence of this--if there was, I'm sure Larry Flynt/Paul Begala/Sidney Blumenthal would have dug it up during the impeachment investigation and trial. If they couldn't shake any skeletons out of his closet, it ain't worth shaking.

But I've heard about the "whisper campaign". Fred Barnes mentioned it on Fox News 6:00pm program last week. From what I've read, this happens every election year.

[wimpycat]

That was way back in '94 or '96 wasn't it?

Don't tell me you're a disgruntled Peeler supporter or somehow he's not conservative enough for you. You sound like you're spreading rumors to keep the "whisper campaign" going. That's ugly politics, the politics of big "L" Losers.

If you have something to say, just come out and say it--don't hint and suggest. If you know something, just tell it. Put up or shut up.

Bush flew in twice already to campaign for him, so I doubt whatever the dark, mysterious Anderson, SC "problem" is has anything to do with the President not flying in for a third time, especially when Graham's doing so well.

So unless or until you're man enough to come right out and say exactly what this "problem" is, I'll be forced to conclude you're not capable of finishing anything you start.

[dixie sass]

Good Post Wimpycat. Graham is the only logical person to take the seat being vacated by Senator Thurmond. Saunders, is not suited. He and his wife would be in constant conflict with that other senator (what's his name again?)over who can serve the best brunch with the most attendees!

Graham, who does not always toe the party line is still the most knowledgible and since we can't have Mark Sanford as both Senator and Governor, well, it's obviously Lindsey.

Sanders should have stayed at the College of Charleston instead of trying his hand in politics. He was doing a wonderful job there and I don't think anyone will ever be able to do as well. I wish him the best after the elections and hope that he goes back to education and administrative work.

[ChadGore]

WIN ONE FOR THE GIPPER

Vote on Tuesday.

Do the right thing.

[dixie sass]

Well, there is one thing to be said about most South Carolinians - we come straight to the point and we also know when to keep our mouths shut. Some of the greatest leaders of this country have come out of South Carolina.

[dixie sass]

I hope that this time we do a better job with the control of the Senate and the House. I hope that lessons were learned and taken to heart. Vote on Tuesday, November 5, 2002

[dixie sass]

Oh geeze, Vic. Harpottymouth has already tried that and it didn't fly. It won't fly again. If you want to believe Harpottymouth and Hodges and all of their little hanger-ons, please find the DU site and retreat there. Okay?
Thank you very much.

[Kevin Curry]

Whether you or I agree with it, there's a big rumor surrounding Lindsgay. Stay tuned.

*Yawn*

This is hardly news. Sanders and his staffers have been hinting around about this for over a year. If there had been any fire to this smoke, it would have been produced a long time ago. The liberal gay-activist lobby would have already held a press conference or three.

Graham is a middle-aged bachelor. Reading anything more than that into it is petty, unsubtantiated innuendo.

[dixie sass]

Agreed, 100%. Knowing this part of the country, if there were anything in Mr. Grahams past that could harm him, it would have been brought out in the first election that he ever ran in and he would never have made it to dogcatcher. Especially, what Harpottymouth and Hodges have been eluding to for over a year now.

I agree with Wimpycat, put up or shut up! You know you might enjoy the DU site. They love to play gossip monger, reputation shredder and other such games.

[dixie sass]

Thanks for the reminder Chad. You should make a thread of just what you posted here. Do it and I will help you keep it bumped until I leave to work the polls at before light early on November 5 and will ask friends to keep it bumped also until close of polls.

[copycat]

You got nothin'.

Besides, I don't care if he's gay, as long as Orrin Hatch is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and Hillary! is back in the minority where she belongs.