Tuesday night the five Republican candidates for governor will meet on stage for the first time in Newberry, S.C. at what’s being billed oh so cleverly as the “First in the State GOP Gubernatorial Debate.”
Seriously, what a great name. It’s just so, so … descriptive.
Anyway, WIS TV’s Judi Gatson will moderate the debate, which will be held at the historic Newberry Opera House.
For a discussion that’s likely to feature a lot of carefully-rehearsed talking points and predictable lines of attack, party activists are awfully excited about the event. We’re not. Frankly, this is one of the weakest GOP benches in history, and a strong Democratic candidate (of which there happen to be a few in the running) could find 2010 to be a perfect storm similar to the one that elected Democrat Jim Hodges in 1998.
Anyway, here’s a breakdown of how the evening might go for each of the five candidates …
Henry McMaster – S.C. Attorney General
The debate will go well for Henry if … index cards with big words are permitted and the average IQ of the audience is below 60. No really, if this guy strings together a complete, semi-intelligible sentence, it’ll be a huge victory for his campaign.
The debate will go poorly for Henry if … if his affiliation with several “whites only” social clubs is discussed or if his botched handling of a high-profile sex case in 2007 is mentioned. Oh, and if anybody in attendance offers the Attorney General a pre-debate “toke.”
Andre Bauer – S.C. Lt. Governor
The debate will go well for Andre if … he’s allowed to hand out blankets to all the old people in attendance. Seriously, Bauer needs to step up with some substance, and fast. This debate is a chance for him to stake out some defined positions and shed the “unruly child” image that has dogged him for most of his career.
The debate will go poorly for Andre if … the words “gay” or “Jim Miles” are mentioned.
Gresham Barrett – U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett
The debate will go well for Gresham if … he doesn’t get booed off the stage the way he did at the Greenville Tea Party earlier this year.
The debate will go poorly for Gresham if … the bailout vote that caused those “boo birds” becomes a dominant conversation topic.
Nikki Haley – S.C. Representative
The debate will go well for Nikki if … she can embrace the best of embattled S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s ideas without being burned by the nuclear radiation from his many scandals.
The debate will go poorly for Nikki if … she comes off as nothing but the “Sanford candidate.”
Larry Grooms – S.C. Senator
The debate will go well for Larry if … he is able to say something that causes anyone to remember his name.
The debate will go poorly for Larry if … he is discovered to be a robot programmed by the McMaster campaign.
Tickets to the debate are (cough, cough) $25. We’re assuming plenty of seats are still available.
By beentook2 September 22, 2009 at 12:16 am
Some of my favorite oxymorons used to be living dead, liquid gas, found missing, clearly confused and alone together until I read this article.
Seriously Bauer is now my favorite. OK, so there was a comma. Big deal.
By Mike Reino September 22, 2009 at 12:50 am
Judging by your comments, can I assume that the arrow in the top right of the picture is Larry’s?
By Matt September 22, 2009 at 1:05 am
How do we know that this is not really some cleverly disguised attempt by Chad Connelly to get a bunch of gullible people together for an Amway meeting?
By A person that knows September 22, 2009 at 2:30 am
Andre has never lost a debate. This type of free advertising is what he is waiting for.
By Don September 22, 2009 at 7:55 am
I wonder if anyone will ask Andre about his undisclosed airplane flights. There are in excess of 70 of them. I think the voters would like to know now, not later!
The hypocrisy of Bauer hounding Sanford about travel, and then being guilty of the same offenses, is amazing.
Until the question is asked, the public cannot know.
By Richard September 22, 2009 at 9:00 am
How can an undeclared individual be allowed to debate those that have taken the time to declare for this seat? Bauer is just using the Lt Governors office to fund his travels and campaign efforts so he doesn’t have to spend campaign money, and then we invite him to a debate as a candidate? This is very poor judgement on the party and a bad precedence.
By Barney Fife September 22, 2009 at 9:11 am
The debate will go bad for Henry McMaster if…. he is allowed to speak. He has to be the dumbest man in Columbia. Not to mention, he about bankrupted the State Party. Doesn’t anyone remember this?
The debate will go bad for Andre’ if his boyfriend shows up.
The debate won’t go bad for Gresham…. The TARP program is being paid back with interest. He just needs to convey that thought. He will come out on top easily. Just keep out the crazy Ron Paul people.
Nikki who?????
The debate will go bad for Larry Grooms if …..he is allowed to speak. This guy is the dullest guy I have ever met. How did he get elected to the Senate.
By Tee September 22, 2009 at 9:11 am
Serious question. Is there any independents considering a run for office? There is no way in hell you could pay me to vote for any of those goons on the republican ticket……and voting for a democrat asnt an option either.
By thomas September 22, 2009 at 10:06 am
Bauer took $125,000 of tax dollars and spent it on Senior Shield which has resulted in paid advertising for him and no value for seniors. It is clearly ascam, but it works for him.
And oh yea, Bauer got $4500 back in memberships. That is kinda hard to do…turning $125,000 into $4500. Not just anyone could do that.
By cv September 22, 2009 at 3:17 pm
As a student of political science and an ardent conservative I must say that Larry Grooms is essentially the embodiment of what conservative principles have to offer, and the candidate South Carolina can most trust.
Contrary to the opinion of voters in the 2008 presidential election: experience matters, and a candidate’s voting record should be the most vital of data for our consideration. Senator Grooms has a 12 year record of true conservatism and pubic service to the people of South Carolina. He has the most conservative voting record in the Senate, from spending and expansion of government to life issues, his record speaks for itself. It is about time a legislator put his power to use, talking points and promises do nothing for the citizenry, and Senator Grooms has shown that his priority lies with the tax payers.
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of Larry Grooms is his embodiment of the American Dream. His political life was not born of pride or want of glory; he became a public servant after having worked his way from a trailer to the business world where he experienced, first hand, the need for reform. He eventually became the founder and president of his own company. It is this drive, experience, and unwavering principle that can lead this state honestly and efficiently.
In the race for the leadership of South Carolina I choose to put my faith in a man who was not only proven himself to the state, but also stands to remind us what true conservatism is.
If you are interested in the race tune in tonight to the debate and see for yourself. If you are on twitter the hash is #scdebate see you there!
By Edward September 22, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Grooms has been a big pusher of spending tens of millions of tax dollars expanding the state run port authority. Rather than privatizing our port and returning millions back to our state, he is in favor of having an inefficient Soviet style monopoly expand. Growing government is hardly conservative.
The truth hurts.
By SC Raymond September 22, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Curtis Loftis is a Loser. Everyone knows that he post all kinds of whacko stuff on here about constitutional officers that have fired him. Get a life curtis. Go run your overseas orphanage for little boys and stay out of SC.