It wasn’t just a waiter that S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford “stiffed” during his recent visit to York County, S.C.
The Palmetto State’s embattled, lampooned and disgraced governor – whose recent scandals have drawn sharp criticism from his ideological ally, State Senator Mick Mulvaney (R-York) – took a pass on endorsing Mulvaney’s as-yet-unannounced Fifth District U.S. Congressional bid against fourteen-term incumbent John Spratt.
Tit-for-tat, it would appear … and quite a reversal (for now) from 2008, when Sanford aggressively campaigned for Mulvaney in one of the state’s few competitive State Senate races.
“I’m not really familiar with (the Fifth Congressional) district,” Sanford told the Rock Hill Herald editorial board when asked about Mulvaney’s presumptive bid against Spratt. “My guess is, the district numbers may cut against you. I don’t know. But it may be changing so fast with what’s happening up at Sun City and the growth coming out of Charlotte. I’m not current enough to know.”
Indeed, the district is still solidly Democratic – although it is trending to the right, and recent polling data indicates that Spratt’s support for a “cap and tax” energy proposal and his attempt to tiptoe around the health care issue have cost him the support of Fifth District voters.
“Those two issues alone could sink (Spratt),” said a source familiar with the polling data.
Still, a credible, well-funded GOP challenger in 2006 was unceremoniously thrashed by Spratt, who prior to the rise of socialist President Barack Obama has been able to effectively position himself as a moderate Democrat.
That’s become considerably more difficult these days.
We obviously weren’t there to hear the Herald‘s “phrasing of the question” to Sanford, but the paper prefaced the governor’s remarks on Mulvaney’s race by saying that he had “sidestepped an opportunity to voice support for Mulvaney.”
If that’s true, then Mulvaney “sidestepped” an opportunity to respond to Sanford’s “diss.”
“My guess is that the Governor has more pressing matters at hand than my possible run against Mr. Spratt,” Mulvaney told FITS. “I haven’t even had a chance to talk with him about it yet. Besides, Ralph’s race is what is most important right now. First things first.”
Ralph Norman – the candidate who lost to Spratt in 2006 – is currently running for reelection to the S.C. House of Representatives. In contrast to the the governor’s “diss” of Mulvaney, Norman received a ringing endorsement from Sanford on his York County trip.
Norman and Sanford also dined together at a York County restaurant , where Sanford was later busted for failing to leave a tip on a $200 guest check.
By Mike Honcho October 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Mulvaney didn’t call the man. According to you, a GOP source, which you nicknamed (stealing generously from Trey Parker and Matt Stone), leaked the story before Mulvaney was ready to go.
So, Sanford gets blindsided on a story that you proclaim was inappropriately leaked and he doesn’t rush to endorse a man he’s not entirely sure is running. What is your criticism again?
Let’s break it down in simpler terms: Oh look, a Sanford story, with 15% new content.
I don’t want to say you’re slipping Billy, but this is how the AP rolls.
Make that into a bumper sticker.
By Earl Capps October 10, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Norman wasn’t a credible candidate against Spratt. He attacked Spratt on illegal immigration and then a TV news crew went to one of his projects a couple of days later and found workers who claimed to be illegals. True or not, people believed it.
As many people believe any Hispanics working on a construction project are here illegally (sometimes they are, but E-verify and new laws are changing that), a credible candidate would have had the sense not to attack on an issue where they could appear vulnerable.
I’m not sure I’d call the Fifth a Democratic district, as it had far fewer Republicans when Larry Bigham got 48% in 1994 and 46% in 1996, but as long as Spratt’s in, nothing short of a perfect political storm could produce a win for any Republican challenger. Why else do you think the likes of Hayes, Peeler, Gregory, Pope, Simrill, and others who have long political resumes, proven fundraising abilities and strong political bases haven’t run for the seat?
By Mr. Dart October 10, 2009 at 5:05 pm
“Indeed, the district is still solidly Democratic…”
Well, it’s certainly true the 5th has voted for Spratt repeatedly, but in the past 3 presidential elections the vote was: McCain 53%/Obama 46%, Bush 57%/ Kerry 42%, and Bush 55%/ Gore 43%.
And, Spratt’s home base, York County, votes about 66% Republican.
By CNSYD October 10, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Sanford and Mulvaney are both carpetbaggers.
By BIN News Editorial Staff October 10, 2009 at 9:12 pm
All this proves is sic(k) willie is still getting money from Mick to pimp for him. And sanfraud no longer has sic(k) willie on his Christmas card list. But back to important stuff.
sic(k) willie, when will we see your client list so we can tell the good from the bad and the ugly? Are you ashamed of your client list? ;)
By columbia insider October 11, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hey, Crosby, Nash, Stills, Young and Dumbass — Mulvaney was born in Virginia. What’s your definition of a carpetbagger? Dumb f@ck.
By Sue October 12, 2009 at 12:13 am
CNSYD,
yup. Go home.
By Willam Klinton October 12, 2009 at 7:43 am
Sanfrauds motto screw everyone else I got mine and I will rule you all!!!
By CNSYD October 12, 2009 at 9:39 am
columbia insider, you are the dumb one. He was born in Alexandria, VA which, as anyone with a little knowledge would know, is just a bedroom town for those who work inside the beltway. He went to Georgetown and Harvard. How much more proof do you need? Hell Sanfraud was born in Florida, but Florida is really just in the South by location only. IRT my definition. If you ain’t from here and come in on your white horse to reform all us poor dumb SC natives then you are a carpetbagger. Add Davis and Ryberg to the list.
By Pat Hendrix October 12, 2009 at 11:28 am
Spratt will smoke whoever you got. If they couldn’t get him 1994, they are not going to get him now. Forget it.
By Frequent Flyer October 12, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Columbia Insider…In name only!
By AppleMan October 12, 2009 at 12:59 pm
CNSYD: your investigative work seems untiring, and your skills are clearly formidable. You know where he was born and where he went to school (at least partially), and you conclude that he is some sort of fake Southerner. Scotland Yard surely awaits you. As if any of that information is relevant to whether or not he’s doing a good job or would represent SC well. For what it is worth, your sleuthing somehow missed the other articles that mention that he grew up in Charlotte and went to that notorious Yankee law school in Chapel Hill. I think all that remains is for you to reference that “indian land boondoggle” site before you disappear from this forum. Tell all the folks on the Powers-Norrell campaign team that this line of “arguing” doesn’t carry much water (still).
By CNSYD October 12, 2009 at 1:57 pm
AppleMan, I intentionally left out the blue belly school. There does not exist on the face of the earth any more arrogant assholes than they are. They think they have the trademark on the word Carolina. They LOVE to look down their noses at SC. So I imagine that is what he learned there. BTW I ain’t going anywhere. So no, he is not a fake Southerner but he is OBVIOUSLY a fake South Carolinian. Besides that he is joined at the hip to Sanfraud.
By OnNoNotAgain October 12, 2009 at 3:01 pm
“Indeed, the district is still solidly Democratic…”
Well, it’s certainly true the 5th has voted for Spratt repeatedly, but in the past 3 presidential elections the vote was: McCain 53%/Obama 46%, Bush 57%/ Kerry 42%, and Bush 55%/ Gore 43%.
And, Spratt’s home base, York County, votes about 66% Republican.
This comment makes the mistake that led Norman to run in 2006. You can’t facor on that up-ticket number giving you a bump if you don’t run in the same election year as the President.
First off, Yoek County can deliver 66 percent GOP votes. But Spratt beat Norman in that race. Don’t have the percentage on hand. If the election were held today, I’d say any GOP opponent beats Spratt in York County NOW, what with the anger from the Birther types over healthcare stirring the pot.
Next year? Who knows?
And in all those counties where GOP presidential candidates won in the Fifth, Spratt won by an even bigger margin.
The Fifth is wide and diverse. But you look DOWN the ticket, and in most, you have solid Democratic leadership at the county level.
Dillon and Marlboro counties voted like 4-1 for Democratic candidates. in 2004 when Bush won. Norman got similar ass-whippings two years later.
The Fifth is a hard place to run in. You have three separate TV markets, two being the biggest media markets in the state (Columbia and Charlotte, with Florence/MB thrown in.)
It is without a doubt that many of the Democratic county level leaders are boll weevil, almost Dixiecrats. if the GOP would get them to switch, they might change the demographics of the district. But they don’t want to work at that level.
Add in the fact that Norman made the stupid decision to run for the Congressional seat in an off-year, and you get what you got. He was hand-picked by national GOP, Cheney came to campaign for him. And what happens? He loses. By 24,000 votes. That’s BIG.
(75,422-99,669-64)
Why bring all that up? Because Spratt’s “snub” of Mulvaney has as much to do with Mulvaney getting on the resignation as …
(wait for it)
Norman’s announced desire to run for Spratt’s seat “at the right time.”
Norman wants the seat, and he figures he needs to be a state Rep. to have the chops to pull it off. So he runs for the state house now, if he wins (most probably when he wins) he runs against Spratt next time.
There’s no incumbent to help Norman at the top.
Since Mulvaney is following the Norman “success” plan for the House seat, being a newcomer in the State Senate whose only claim to fame is his support from Sanford), we’ll see how it goes.
A Republican could win the seat, even now, if it were done right. But it won’t be.
By Pat Hendrix October 12, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Nope, I’ve worked two campaigns in the 5th and know the numbers. Spratt’s not losing that seat. His popularity is high, even among many Republicans. Norman may be hoping for that seat when Johnny retires, but until then, lambs to the slaughter.
By York Insider October 12, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Pat:
Would you be singing the same tune if you knew that Spratt’s approval ratings were below 40%?
Bailouts+Socialized Medicine = New 5th
By CNSYD October 12, 2009 at 6:02 pm
So let me understand. You want to toss a rep who presently chairs the Budget Committee and is 2nd ranking majority member of the Armed Services Committee in return for a freshman congressman of the minority party. That right? Does this make sense? When and if the GOP gains a majority then it might make some sense but not now.
By York Insider October 12, 2009 at 6:48 pm
And there…ladies and gentlemen…is why we are where we are as a nation.
“Why kick out the guy who brings home the bacon…Ok..so he’s hocking our children’s future, and selling our collective soul … for just one more term at the trough…we sure do like that bacon, though…”
WE….JUST…CANT…SAY…NO…TO….THE….MONEY….
Fiscal discipline is coming, one way or the other. The only question is just whether it comes in the form of new thinking about government, and new representation in Washington…or by nationwide poverty.
But it is coming…and what will John Spratt do for you then, when he is home picking up his pension?
By CNSYD October 12, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Not so long ago the 1st district was having orgasms over this particular candidate for Congress. He was frugal. A fiscal conservative. He was against big government. How could we go wrong? Well his name was Sanford. What a joke he was as a Congressman. So I guess the 5th district wants to have their own can’t nothing, won’t do nothing freshman Congressman. All he needs to say is that he will sleep in his office.
By Toyota Kawaski October 13, 2009 at 8:44 am
DAM its going to snow I agree with CNSTD oh boy nellie! Great job not leaving out The senator from Wisconsin and Tom “glamour Shot”Davis
By OnNoNotAgain October 13, 2009 at 9:22 am
I haven’t seen any published polls for the Fifth District as a whole, “York Insider.”
I’ll bet you are referring to a York County survey, but that’s just my guess.
I saw an analsis of the race where the writer took 10,000 votes from Spratt in York County and GAVE them to Norman. Just gave them to Norman. 10,000 votes. And the numbers show, that still wasn’t enough.
From the number posted above, that would be
75,422-99,669-64 turning to 85,422-89,669-64.
So if Norman had committed electoral fraud and BOUGHT 10,000 Spratt votes in York County, he still loses by 4,247 votes?
Good luck Mr. Mulvaney.
The only thing smarter about Mulvaney’s run is that he is a state senator, and does not have to give up his first-term seat in order to run in this cycle.
The biggest non-ideological knock on Norman was he was a first-term state rep who had done practically nothing in the house.
I’m not an “insider,” but I’m from York County.
It is a county with an over-developed sense of relavence. Because Spratt is from there, they believe that as they vote, so votes the Fifth. And most of your political pundits, from Scott Huffmon at Winthrop to old Lee Bandy passed on that argument.
The district is just too big for that to be true.
By ML August 19, 2010 at 11:15 am
Spratt’s so-called “bacon” is pretty damn defensible.
His support for the military is outstanding, which is why the Air Force Association recently honored him and the National Guard Association of South Carolina has contributed to his campaign. I realize most folks haven’t served in the Armed Forces nowadays, but be very aware of what Spratt has done for military readiness and South Carolina. From Bradley AFV upgrades to ensuring Shaw AFB is ready for the F-35 beddown, he’s gotten the job done and the results exist in steel, concrete, and hardware for all to see.
OTOH Mulvaney never served in the armed forces, and since he effectively opposes the power of the purse, can’t support justifiable discretionary military spending.
Examples of things earmarks buy include MRAPS and uparmored HMMWVs that DoD _FAILED_ to program for. Had there been no earmarks, there is no effective mechanism to redress such problems and in those cases it was not being done.