Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram is apparently willing to do whatever it takes to become the next Chairman of the S.C. Republican Party, whether that’s trashing both of his opponents or threatening Republican activists – and one U.S. Senator – who aren’t supporting his bid.
It’s all part of a three-way contest that many believe will eclipse the national chairman’s race in its nastiness.
Beltram’s sudden ramp-up in intensity, though, is surprising.
We had previously heard rumors from credible sources that he was going to drop out of the race – which most observers agree has boiled down to a battle between Columbia Attorney Kevin Hall and Spartanburg businesswoman Karen Floyd.
Obviously, that’s not the case.
In fact, word from Spartanburg is that Floyd’s entry into the race has compelled the rotund Republican to step up his attacks.
Beltram – already widely suspected to be the source of an e-mail bashing Hall’s candidacy earlier in the race – is reportedly now dishing dirt on Floyd, questioning her previous association with the campaign of Rudy Giuliani and raising questions about Floyd’s debt from her 2006 campaign for Superintendent of Education.
“Bad, bad blood there,” said one GOP source, referring to the relationship between Beltram and Floyd.
Two activists we spoke with said Beltram was already shopping a story on Floyd to the Spartanburg media in the wake of her recent entry in the race, ostensibly in an effort to rally supporters in their shared hometown around his candidacy.
We’ve been unable to confirm that with the paper, but it certainly jive with reports of other heavy-handed tactics that Beltram is said to be using in his backyard.
For example, in a revealing story on the Upstate blog The Conservatist, Republican activist Gary Coats accuses Beltram of threatening local party members should they endorse other candidates.
“In Stalin’esque’ fashion, he has told two individuals either you are with me or you are out of the county party,” Coats writes on his blog.
Coats also accuses Beltram of threatening U.S. Senator Jim DeMint – who has endorsed Hall’s campaign.
“He told me that because Jim DeMint endorsed Kevin Hall, the Spartanburg County GOP will be sitting on its hands in 2010 if and when he asks for assistance,” Coats writes.
The SCGOP will select its new chairman in May, which means we’ve got three months of this fun stuff ahead, folks.
By John February 26, 2009 at 12:07 am
Oh dear God!!! Not this buffoon. I had the displeasure of meeting him at the Spartanburg Board of Election the day before the last elections. He almost got thrown out of there for running his mouth and pissing everyone off when it was not even remotely necessary. God save us.
By Alex February 26, 2009 at 1:45 am
Will,
There is a reason Gary Coats is posting these accusations on his blog. A lot of us up here know that Gary was considering a run for Congress in 2010 in the primary against Bob Inglis. He thought Beltram was going to be behind his bid to take out Inglis. He later found out that Beltram was not going to waste time boosting his candidacy which would have gone nowhere. Now Gary has said he is not running for Congress and holds a grudge against Rick Beltram. I would take whatever he posts on his blog with a grain of salt.
By Phillip on the Skids February 26, 2009 at 3:56 am
We will be treated to the sad spectacle of the two buffoons from Spartanburg strutting around the state for the next three months. I think I’m going to stay home and hide. I might even blow up my mailbox and have my phone disconnected, just to be sure I’m safely hidden.
Beltram will remind us of what a loser Floyd is – her quitting the judgeship, coming in 11,000 votes behind the next worse GOP statewide candidate in her home county, quitting after one term on County Council, etc. – and he will be right. But in doing so, Beltram will also show us what a loser he is, so Floyd’s people can spend their time tearing down Hall.
Those of you who remember the Holy Jihad her people waged in the Education race two years ago, you can bet it will happen again. But with Beltram taking votes in her backyard, spreading the sludge on his past and present opponent, and souring people on anyone and anything Spartanburg in nature, cryng RINO won’t work as well this time. In the end, Hall will be able to as the clean guy, pick up the pieces and win.
Rick can’t win, and we should hope that he won’t, but along the way, you can bet he will delight in beating Floyd’s whimsical political ambitions once more.
By Silence the Noise February 26, 2009 at 8:57 am
Thie guy is a genuine dumbass. Mr. Potato Head would not only run our party into the ground, drive us into FURTHER debt, and ultimately only serve to further erode the Republican brand…….so no thanks Mr. Potato Head……keep your dumbass in Spartanburg.
By Nope February 26, 2009 at 11:15 am
Rick Beltram. Ick.
By Big Elvis February 26, 2009 at 11:22 am
He’s a real kingpin – just ask him. This morning he threatened, on the air, to sue local talk radio host Russ Cassell for slander. The calls afterward were 99% sarcastic of this guy and his opinion of himself. He really is a laughingstock.
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