Hall Gets Support, Floyd Battles Rumors
Columbia attorney Kevin Hall’s campaign for SCGOP Chairman received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, State Sen. Tom Davis and more than 125 other GOP activists from the Second Congressional District yesterday, a strong showing of institutional support in a key GOP stronghold.
“Since my name will be on the ballot in 2010 and I’ll be facing a well-funded opponent, I know first-hand how important it is that we have a State Party Chairman who knows how to win and will ensure we have the resources to do so,” Wilson said in endorsing Hall’s candidacy.
Hall has already been endorsed by U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham.
Joining Wilson and Davis yesterday in endorsing Hall were GOP Reps. Nathan Ballentine and Kenny Bingham, as well as Sen. Greg Ryberg.
Meanwhile, Hall’s primary opponent for the SCGOP Chairman’s race – Spartanburg businesswoman Karen Floyd – was battling some negative press related to one of her staff members, former Aiken County GOP operative Ginny Allen.
Personally, we like Allen, and we’re not sure what all the fuss is about over on Wolfe Reports.
Potentially far more damaging to Floyd’s chances, however, are reports we’re hearing out of Spartanburg that she may have engaged in some improper lobbying activities on a recent trip to Washington D.C.
Details are sketchy at this point, but sources have told FITS that Gov. Mark Sanford’s office is looking into the issue due to Floyd’s current service on the S.C. State Ports Authority board.
Sanford has previously removed one appointment from the board over lobbying-related issues, Carroll A. “Tumpy” Campbell.
Floyd’s Spartanburg-based PR firm, the Palladian Group, previously offered governmental relations services, although it appears a reference to those services has recently removed from the company’s website.
Developing …
Comments
By Ruby Motz on March 20th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I read Kevin’s list and did a little of my own homework. Of his so called 125 “leading GOP activists” that come from the 2nd district, the backyard of he and his entire campaign team, 74 hadn’t participated in party reorg in the last five years; 14 have participated but did not make it to the state convention; 10 barely made it as alternates; and only 27 of his so called “leading GOP activists” have shown their activism by serving as a delegate in the last five years. That’s right of the 127 possible delegates from the 2nd district, after a year of campaigning, Kevin only lined up 27 delegates. If they could move the convention to 2011, Kevin Hall just might make it.
By Toyota Kawaski on March 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Allen is the scapegoat in this to bad several others wont man up and take there medicine but we in Aiken know who they are ie: a teacher,a fake council member,a drunk,and a man who has been studying for the BAR for over 7 years ,plus a second rate consultant.
By Ronald on March 20th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Kevin just doesn’t seem to learn. Getting the endorsement of elected officials just doesn’t move activists. We think our elected officials should be held accountable to our party leaders, not the other way around. The next time one of our elected officials goes off and does something stupid we need a party chairman who has the credibility to call them out. Whether its immigration, the gang of 14, nationalizing the banks or whatever Lindsay thinks of next, we need a party chairman who doesn’t owe Lindsay for their election. Having a party chairman who at that moment is backed by the truth, the support of real republicans and the independence to speak their own mind will be critical. Kevin Hall can never be that party chairman.
By go kev on March 20th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Looks like Karen’s people will say anything to blunt Hall’s momentum. Stop with the stale talking points already.
By Southern Belle on March 20th, 2009 at 10:52 am
All I know is Kevin ran against Katon for re-election, was behind the attacks on Katon when he ran for RNC, and has trashed the state party, its leadership, accomplishments, and staff. From what I hear, Joe Wilson and other leaders endorsed Kevin before they knew about any of this, and before Karen Floyd got into the race. They are men of their word and will therefore stand by the comments and quotes given months ago, but if you ask some of them privately, they will tell you a different story. When it’s all said and done, I find it hard to believe that someone whose highest position in politics to date has been being Lindsey Graham’s treasurer is going to end up running the entire state party. But if Lindsey and his staff have their way, I could be wrong.
By Republican Swamp Fox on March 20th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Hall is getting alot of support in Dorchester County after Floyd lost the debate there to him.
By Bubba on March 21st, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Southern Belle… Please. Kevin did not such things. He didn’t “run” against Katon previously. He almost did. Didn’t “trash” Katon for RNC…if anything, wanted Katon to win and get out of state and clear a path to the Chairmanship. If anyone “trashed” Katon in his RNC bid, it was Robert Cahaly and his gutter email campaign garbage that ticked off Ken Blackwell enough to endorse Michael Steele.
And as for elected officials not knowing what’s going on, I’m sure they know a little more than you…given they’ve got more on the line politically.
By PoliticalObserver on March 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Last time I checked, Cahaly really wasn’t that involved in the Katon race. Katon is not that dumb to include him in on the plan. Wasn’t Kevin Hall and his buddies Warren Thompkins and Wes Donehue fingered for sending out that hate snail mail against Katon? If I know Warren like I used to, I bet my life savings that he was behind the emails trashing other candidates.
As far as my sources tell me,Ken Blackwell hated Michael Steele and had to endorse him because it would be a blow to his personal “street Credit” to endorse a man who belonged to whites only Forest Lake Country Club over someone of his same skin color. Play the race card if you see fit, but it makes sense why Blackwell endorsed Steele. If you think we’ve seen the last of Blackwell on the national scene… Guess again.
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