Harrell, McConnell Already Eyeing District Lines

South Carolina is still years away from its once-a-decade fight over legislative redistricting, but sources tell FITS that S.C. Senate President Glenn McConnell and House Speaker Bobby Harrell are already scheming as to how they can use the redrawing of the state’s political borders to their advantage.

And while you’d think the state’s two most powerful “Republican” politicians would be looking for ways to expand their respective legislative majorities, the reports we’ve received would seem to indicate otherwise.

Specifically, we’re hearing that the first order of business for these two RINO politicians will be to “take out” conservative Republicans in “vulnerable” districts, while shifting more GOP voters into the districts of Republicans who have been “loyal” to legislative leaders.

Obviously, in some parts of the state there is a limit as to how much impact such machinations can have, but for many others threats of freshly redrawn districts could prove fatal to their future election bids.

At a strategy session prior to the conclusion of the 2009 session, McConnell reportedly indicated that (the districts of) Senators Lee Bright, Chip Campsen, Shane Massey and Mick Mulvaney would be among those targeted for removal … err, “redrawing.”

Sources also tell FITS that McConnell has directly threatened those Senators with “redistricting retribution” for their pro-taxpayer votes.

In the House, where the options for “poaching” are more limited due to the tighter drawing of district lines, Speaker Harrell is reportedly eyeing districts currently represented by Marion Frye, Joey Millwood, Jim Stewart and Tommy Stringer, among others.

Harrell is also reportedly looking to “zone out” his former rival for the Speaker’s Office, Rep. Jim Harrison.

“The President and Speaker are interested solely in expanding their governing majorities,” said a source familiar with McConnell and Harrell’s plans. “Moving the margins also facilitates loyalty within their respective chambers.”

For example, in addition to plugging more GOP votes into the districts of “vulnerable” RINOs, McConnell is also said to be securing the continued allegiance of Sen. Jake Knotts by preserving one of the unique characteristics of his district – the fact that it does not include any sitting House members (i.e. prospective opponents).

Based on our reading of the current district lines, Knotts is the only Republican Senator who does not have a House member currently residing within his Senate district.

Most GOP Senators have two or more House members in their districts.

Obviously, the “battle lines” have (literally) yet to be drawn in this fight, but follow FITS in the months to come as the tent start going up on the decennial redistricting circus.

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