S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex – a.k.a. “Epic Fail” – has reportedly decided to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010, a major bombshell in a race that many political observers presumed was on “lock down” for State Senator Vincent Sheheen.
Tonight, Rex and his wife, Sue, will be attending a fundraiser on behalf of the “Run For Governor Jim Rex, Run!” organization.
Where is Rex’s fundraiser being held?
At the Charleston home of former Democratic Congressional candidate Linda Ketner, who over the weekend accused three of South Carolina’s top “Republican” officials – including one of Rex’s potential 2010 rivals – of being closet homosexuals.
So yeah … expect this race to get “interesting” sooner rather than later.
Rex narrowly defeated current GOP Chairman Karen Floyd in the race for Superintendent of Education back in 2006, a major upset and the only statewide race that Democrats won that year.
In the intervening years, he has proven to be a masterful politician – at least until he actually had to start producing results.
Since then, his numbers have taken a beating. In fact, we’re floored that Rex is even considering running given the worsening status of South Carolina’s public schools since he took over from Inez Tenenbaum, who was equally incompetent during her eight-year run.
Frankly, as we told one Democratic strategist earlier today, Rex’s entry into the race is quite possibly the best thing that could possibly happen to the current field of GOP candidates, which let’s face it – ain’t exactly “setting the woods on fire” either.
We’ll explain in more detail in future posts, so stay tuned …
By GGIH June 2, 2009 at 2:38 pm
What did you think of Barbara Nielsen?
By GTA June 2, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I’m sure there will be some outing going on at this little party. Maybe Ketner can introduce Rex to Lindsey. That would be a match made in heaven.
By newzjunkie June 2, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Ketner would know…
By Roger June 2, 2009 at 3:17 pm
He should run for gov…the state Dem establishment treated him like dirt when he refused to endorse Obama before the Obama-Clinton primary was decided. This is a great way for him to say “I’m the top Dem in the state dammit…y’all should have been prepping me to be gov from Day 1 the same way y’all did with Inez”…in the end the GOP will control 9 statewide offices anyway.
By Liberty for me June 2, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I am pissed…You did not leave infomation to contribute to his funraiser.
My kids have been taught some good learnin,so we have saved up some of the McDonalds money and would like to give back to the schoolhouse people.
Keep up the good wurk Rex!
By GGIH June 2, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Liberty, go live somewhere else.
By CNSYD June 2, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Education started downhill when it started pandering to all groups. A return to the old days of strict grade policy and no passing work, no graduation would do wonders. In the old days if you showed early on you couldn’t cut it you were moved to a vocational school to learn a trade. I recall guys who were as old as 17 in the 9th grade. No “social” promotion. When they hit 18 they usually quit and started pumping gas. Bleeding hearts won’t let that happen any more.
By SCHotline.com June 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm
So Mr. ‘I’ve Accomplished Jack Squat’ and my students live in a van down by the river, thinks he can run for governor, this must be a joke…
By Yossarian June 2, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I guess the only way you would consider a Superintendent of Education a success would be the implementation of intelligent design. End no child left behind and stop the millions of dollars wasted on testing. teachers are not allowed to teach anymore, they’re just getting kids ready to take a test. Put a plan in place to allow principals to replace teachers that are getting the job done. Allow the schools to operate like any other business, if you don’t get the job done you get a new job. You don’t need tests to tell you that.
By smart Kid Grant June 2, 2009 at 6:42 pm
noooo!
By Matt June 2, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Jim Rex never wanted to be governor–as a former college president and education policy guy the Superintendants job was his fit. From a few Democrat politicos I’ve talked to, Rex is pretty upset with how he is treated by the party. They don’t see him as a rising star they way they did with Tenenbaum. He was expecting the party to come to him and ask him to run for governor in 2010. I think that he may be holding a grudge and wants to turn this race on its head, and if the Dems lose their only statewide elected official than he could care less.
By BIN News Editorial Staff June 2, 2009 at 7:12 pm
sic(k) willie is such a pimp’ocrat.
The fact Mr. Rex defeated markiee mark’s stooge, Karen Floyd, speaks volumes about Mr. Rex’s integrity and the confidence S.C. voters have in him.
It’s far too early for BIN News to begin interviewing potential candidates, but our Funding Editor clearly thinks Mr. Rex will be a great candidate.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Calhoun Fawls June 3, 2009 at 1:05 am
Here is a new one I heard. A Rex fan told me that Sheheen was a DINO.
By liz June 3, 2009 at 8:37 am
ONE VOTE HERE
By Not Quite June 3, 2009 at 9:16 am
Dont forget – Rex got fewer votes than his GOP (Floyd) and Libertarian (Moultire) opponents combined.