Rex Commits To Gov Race, Reportedly Picks “Successor”
After keeping the window open just wide enough to run for reelection as S.C. Superintendent of Education if he wanted to, Democrat Jim Rex has apparently decided that four years of perpetuating a hopelessly failed status quo is good enough for him.
Instead, Rex is absolutely, positively 100% running for governor of South Carolina, with sources telling FITS that he has gone as far as to “hand-pick” his successor at the Ministry of Failure and Non-Competition (a.k.a. the State Department of Education). Also, Rex and his “hand-picked” successor may even campaign as an “education ticket,” we’re told.
You know, because it’s all “for the children” with these guys.
So … who will be Rex’s No. 2?
“It’s a game-changer,” said a source who attended a fundraiser for Rex last night – a source who incidentally was told to make sure that their check was made out to Rex’s gubernatorial exploratory committee, not his cash-poor Superintendent’s account.
Hmmmmm …
Other sources tell us that Rex has narrowed the field down to three names – State Rep. Joan Brady and former S.C. Reps. Ronnie Townsend and Bob Walker.
Brady, Townsend and Walker are all among South Carolina’s most notorious RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only.
Unknown at this point is whether Rex’s “No. 2″ would campaign as a Republican or a Democrat, which if you think about it tells you all you really need to know about the S.C. Republican Party, doesn’t it?
Oh well, stay tuned …
Comments
By Calhoun Fawls on August 12th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Rex is going to be in one heckuva a race with Sheheen and Drake to deal with. I don’t see any of the possible candidates you mentioned joining him on some sort of ticket. They all are pretty independent and frankly, even Walker, they are all too smart to get into something like that with a guy who can’t get his own base fired up and could not even make the runoff.
Of the three mentioned, Townsend would be the strongest. He has solid conservative principles on taxes, social issues, etc. I believe he supported the start of charter schools if I am not mistaken. Plus, the guy has never lost any election in his life. I see politics and sports a lot a like, you got to pack your lunch when you get into a scrap with someone who has that instinct to win, because beating them will be an all day job.
By Matt on August 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am
In what way would any of those three names you mentioned constitute a “game-changer”?
By Tee on August 12th, 2009 at 8:52 am
“Unknown at this point is whether Rex’s “No. 2? would campaign as a Republican or a Democrat, which if you think about it tells you all you really need to know about the S.C. Republican Party, doesn’t it?”
Priceless. As a republican i have no problem saying that the S.C. Republican Party is a joke. Most of the time the problem is at the top, unfortunately in SC it is from top to bottom.
By lou on August 12th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Doesn’t matter what letter they put behind their name… it’s C party.
No such thing as a RINO , it’s a C.
They are hiding something really big from the pubik.
By Commonman on August 12th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Rex is a good man, but lets get real. He is a one termer at the DOE, defeated a weak opponent to get there and is 67 years old. Running for Governor probably does a lot for his ego, but his weaknesses will be magnified against Sheheen, McLeod, and even Dwight Drake on the political stage. Whoever is advising him to run must have a huge stake in a Rex Administration or simply does not know how to tell him he can not win.
By RT on August 12th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Brent Nelsen would make a much better Super than any of those three reps. Nelsen for Education!
By ionia8222 on August 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Rex and his advisor Zeke Stokes are smart people. They wouldn’t jump in this race unless they had numbers telling them they’d be dumb not to. I think most of you are forgetting that Jim Rex has unbelievable name ID across the state. And in a primary, thats key. No one in Charleston knows Vincent Sheheen. No one in Anderson knows Mullins McLeod. No one in Beaufort knows Dwight Drake. Every Democrat and most Republicans know the sitting Superintendent of Education, Jim Rex. I think it’s a brilliant move.
By Commonman on August 12th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Jim Hodges thought he won the election against David Beasley. Fact is, Beasley lost the election. Jim Rex thinks he won the election against Floyd (which was extremely close with the recount). Actually, Floyd lost the election. If Rex is the Democrat nominee for Governor, he will get some serious looks from those of us who may want an alternative. I do not believe he can get through the primary. McLeod, Sheheen, and Drake will be all over this state. Sheheen, in particular, is articulate in getting his message out. He has the family man values and credentials, pedigree, intellect, and connections to take on any Republican candidate and take them to the limit. I just do not believe Rex can.
By justme on August 12th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I think that in the next election SC voters are going to be a lot more worried about jobs than education. Yes, they are related, but I don’t hear anyone bemoaning on a daily basis the state of our schools. Instead, people’s homes are being foreclosed, water is being cut off, and retirees cannot buy food. I am going to vote this time for someone who is about getting our state back to work – and I am a Democrat who has been active in educational issues.
By Barney Fife on August 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
please, please, please, pick Ronnie Townsend. He is the biggest bonehead in SC. Anderson County SC, that is. He was going to get his butt handed to him when he decided not to run. He has skeletons in his closet worse than the governor. This will be so easy. Rex is a good man personally, but a lucky political idiot.
By calhoun fawls on August 12th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Yo Barney, didn’t your guy Harvell get beat by the “Townsend clone” as you guys put it pretty badly in 06? I mean outspent 10-1 and whipped your butts. It has to be painful to remember.
By Logan Stewart on August 13th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Commonman, say what you want about people ‘losing’ an election but not only did Hodges win in ‘98 but he made a lot of positive changes in a state that unfortunately spiraled the other way when Argentinian-loving Sanford narrowly captured the victory in ‘02 (and yes, Sanford ‘won’ that election, as unfortunate as it was). Either way, Sheheen will probably take the primary coming up, pretty much not a question.