Mulvaney Kicks Off Campaign Against Spratt
Just like that, South Carolina’s longest-serving U.S. Congressman has a race on his hands.
U.S. Rep. John Spratt, who has held the Palmetto State’s Fifth District U.S. Congressional seat for the past two-and-a-half decades, will face a stern challenge from one of the rising young stars of the state’s conservative reform movement.
S.C. Senator Mick Mulvaney (R-York) – who was elected last year in a swing Senate district against a credible Democratic opponent – will challenge the venerable (and some say vulnerable) fourteen-term incumbent in 2010.
“I will support private enterprise as the best way to create jobs for our workers, opportunities for our children, and healthy 401(k)s for our retirees,” Mulvaney said, contrasting Spratt’s government-centric world view. “I will support the free market, more competition, less government paperwork and bureaucracy, and limits on frivolous lawsuits as a way to bring sanity to health care.”
Mulvaney made his candidacy official at stops in Rock Hill and Lancaster, with additional announcements planned throughout the district over the coming two days.
The blunt-speaking, sharp-tongued Senator pulled no punches, either, blasting Spratt on several hot-button issues.
“John Spratt voted for the Wall Street bailouts, for the government takeover of GM and Chrysler, for Cap-and-Trade, and he supports the government run health care plan now being debated,” Mulvaney said. “Enough is enough. It is time for him to go.”
Any Republican faces an uphill climb in the Fifth District, although recent polling has shown Spratt to be vulnerable on a number of the issues that Mulvaney pounced on. Three years ago, Spratt obliterated S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman, who many felt would give him a run for his money.
Spratt, 67, looked positively awful two months ago during a series of town hall meetings with constituents, struggling to define his position on some of the more controversial reforms being pushed by the Obama administration.
You can read more about those disastrous town hall meetings here and here.
South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District covers all or part of 14 counties in north-central South Carolina. Its largest cities are Rock Hill and Sumter.
Comments
By Ynot on November 2nd, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Spratt has been overseeing the Congressional Budget Office as well.
By CNSYD on November 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Another carpetbagger trying to take over in SC politics. Is his buddy Sanfraud going to help him campaign?
By Groundball on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I’ve got one word of wisdom for Mulvaney and his trusted advisor: “The bow tie must go!” It makes you look like a man who enjoys the way a cigar feels in his mouth.
By PasserBy on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
FITS:
Is he going to give up his senate seat while he runs in those 14 counties (I note it’s an off-year for the senate next year)? Otherwise, he’s going to be MIA in the state (with a lot of tough budget decisions coming up) while campaining. I’m tired of folks who take the money while running: if you’re gonna do it, go all in.
By Go Figure on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:25 pm
CNSYD – Can you post any message without the word “carpetbagger” in it? What difference does it make whether someone grew up in SC or 5 miles across the state line?
Spratt was born and raised in York. If he has his way the Chinese are going to own your ass and the rest of this country in short order.
By fitsnews on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Groundball-
Ha! That’s actually former Sen. Greg Gregory, whose seat Mulvaney won in 2008.
-FITS
By Philip Branton on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
We wonder just how much time Mickey has spent talking to the three BLIND mice….!?!? (Harvey, Bob, and Boone PEELER) As if Spratt was a real DEMOCRAT…!?!?! Heck, the least Ol’ Spratt could have done was work with Henry “On Golden Pond” Brown in getting Wind Turbines Up all over our state that Henry campaigned on against Ketner in the last election…!!!
Bu…no…..”Jack” Spratt was silent..!!! He wasn’t even at the OFF SHORE Wind Forum in Georgetown the other week..!! So much for getting quick permitting..!!
We sure hope M&M turns out to be a Mickey “A” instead of a Mickey “D”..!!!
Our state needs to start electing educating winners…!!!
Does Mickey know about ……
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8290130.stm …??
Will Mickey stand up to WASTE MANAGEMENT all across the nation and close all Landfills to protect OUR environment….unlike the DEMOCRAT SPRATT.!?!
Does Mickey know that GE Makes WInd Turbines in our state but SPRATT hasn’t even got ONE up as a SALES model…!!
Does Mickey know that…Its the ENERGY….stupid..??
By mark g on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Partisanship aside, it would be really dumb for SC voters to give up Spratt’s seniority.
Spratt is highly respected in Congress, by both sides of the aisle. Sen. Graham called him the smartest guy in the House. He has a powerful committee spot and can bring home the bacon. It is seniority, not partisan politics, that really helps SC, and the state doesn’t have much seniority beyond the two democrats, Spratt and Clyburn. Ironic.
Mulvaney was a Sanford booster right up until recently. He hasn’t done much at the state house.
By Clint on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Spratt will be voting YES on the Pelosi Health Care Bill.
I am sending my check to Mulvaney today…a big check. Screw Spratt…he went DC on us, so we should let him stay in DC…with no need to ever come back to this state.
Anybody but Spratt.
By Groundball on November 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
FITS,
Does that make the bow-tie look more manly? The state fair left town last week!
Groundball
By CNSYD on November 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Go Figure, truth hurts doesn’t it. If you want to be looked at down the noses of Mulvaney, Sanfraud, Davis and Ryberg, be my guest. I prefer people who are invested in SC over carpetbaggers (yes I said it again) who ride in on their white horses to “rescue” we poor dumb natives and line their pockets. Did Spratt tell Treasury to sell bonds to the Chinese? Do you shop at WalMart? If so, you are supporting the Chinese. What model foreign car do you drive? The money owed the Chinese is easily addressed. Tell them to subtract it from the money we spent (in today’s dollars) rescuing them from the Japanese in WWII.
By Clint on November 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
PS…Mark G
Using that line of logic, would we not be better off if we were represented by Pelosi? She has the most power?
Why not Mutha? He has tons of power and seniority. John Conyers? Charlie Rangle?
Spratt, and Pelosi, Rangle etc don’t represent the people of that district. It is a center right district and deserves at least a moderate…if not a conservative. Not a liberal.
Mulveany will whip him and whip him good, especially after Spratt votes yes on Obama Care.
By Yorkie on November 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Go figure: Spratt was born in Charlotte, not York.
By JOEBOB on November 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Its real simple. Mick can’t relate to the people that make up that district. Plus he is a hypocrit. He can’t do a development without some type of gov’t subsidy for developers. he is like Sanford. Rules are for OTHER people, not him. But like I said, he can’t relate.
By Kirk on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I agree, Spratt’s time is up! He, like others, have been in the DC gang too long. His, along with others, influence needs to go! His influence has been working against my interests so I am standing up and supporting those who will run against him. The tax and spend dinosaurs in DC are about to go extinct! Anybody but Spratt! Wake up SC Voters!
By OhNoNotAgain on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Mick Mulvaney is from Indian Land in Lancaster County, not York.
Interesting that he made his announcement in Gaffney on the Cherokee County courthouse, not Lancaster.
Now, there’s a burned courthouse in Lancaster, but still, is there a divide with the home folk?
The district at large is still heavily Democratic, so if those Democrats want healthcare, Spratt’s vote on the “Pelosi” bill will not hurt him.
By B-Vegas Chimes In on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 am
Mulvaney has lived in South Carolina for five years. He was in the House for two years, and hasn’t been in the Senate for an entire year!! He is using the people of Lancaster as a stepping stone to this seat he won’t win. To top it off, his office is located in Charlotte, where his children go to private schools! This is a joke. Mick Mulvaney is a joke.
Will Folks is only pushing him because he enjoys drinking beer with him while the Legislature is in town.
PS- Does Mick Mulvaney have any friends? He’s an arrogant prick.
By flipnut on November 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 am
Mick must not think any of his shady land deals in York and Lancaster county will come back to haunt him, or his habit of robbing subdivision HOA’s blind and leaving them with thousands in unfinished work when they are turned over the HOA.
I don’t agree with a lot Spratt says and does, but I’d rather have a big snake first in line for the bacon than an FNG in the minority party with nothing but a bow tie and a desire to get noticed.
By Go Mick!!!! on November 3rd, 2009 at 6:12 am
OhNo – Mulvaney announced at 9am Monday in Rock Hill and at 10:30 in Lancaster – in his district. Get your facts straight. Mulvaney is a Legislator who listens to the voters in his district and always has – like Spratt used to. I do think it will be a tough road for Mulvaney – especially when Spratt starts bringing down those super sized checks and handing them out throughout the district. And those checks are stimulus money that the Democrats use from campaign purposes to buy votes. The problem is that is OUR TAX MONEY! Mulvaney is one of the sharpest minds in the Legislature. By his going to Congreess, the average IQ in Washington will increase ten fold.
By fitsnews on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 am
Flipnut,
We heard a lot of accusations about “shady land deals” a year ago during the Senate race.
In fact, a lot of special interest money went into “exposing” them.
Whatever came of all that?
We don’t recall it being a factor in the race.
-FITS
By Charles on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
If you think the voters of that Congressional district will support Spratt on Pelosi’s health care bill, you have another thing coming.
That vote will seal his fate. Good riddance to a man that votes to please Pelosi, not his district.
By Recovering Lobbyist on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:58 am
Kind of hard to be eloquent when nut jobs are screaming at you and won’t let you get a word in at your own party. Not that he didn’t have it coming, but don’t critique his performance based on those Town Hall meetings. Even your new favorite, Joe Wilson, had a hard time at Town Hall meetings this year.
By countryboy on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
I have supported and worked for John since his first run for Congress. He was definitely conservative on economics in those days and a moderate on social issues. He was also a conservative on national security/foreign affairs. Gradually however I have seen him slide toward the liberal wing of the party and no longer is he even conservative when it comes to economics. Therefore, for the first time ever I will definitely consider voting for his opponent, subject to what I learn about Mulvaney in the interim. Basically, as the old saying goes, I will vote Mulvaney unless he is caught having sex with a “live boy or a dead girl”. I don’t care how slick he is at making money or how much he has, so long as it was obtained legally.
By York County Native on November 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Mulvaney took 53.7% in a conservative senate district. It is not a “swing” district by any means. He did admittedly have a credible opponent although she was far from a perfect candidate. If anything Mulvaney underperformed, especially in Lancaster County, which he actually lost by about 1300 votes.
Candidates like Norman and Mulvaney generate a lot of excitement among the GOP faithful and the folks with the NRCC (although they’re unlikely to invest much in this race after having been burned somewhat in 2006 and with other more promising Democratic targets around the country in 2010) because they are perceived as being credible candidates from the right part of the district. The problem is that they aren’t from the right part of the district. There is this notion that to beat Spratt, you need someone who can 1) raise lots of money and 2) win big in York County. While the former is certainly true, the latter is a misconception. Spratt could lose York County by 15,000 votes and still win reelection by 10,000 because he’ll win by comfortable marigins in most of the remaining counties in the district (Marlboro, Dillon, Chesterfield, Chester, Lee, Darlington, etc.). If the GOP ever went out and found a Republican from the Pee Dee who could siphon off votes in that part of the district, that candidate would fair much better against Spratt than a Norman or a Mulvaney. York County will still produce the same number of Republican votes that it always does for any Spratt challenger regardless of what part of the district the candidate is from. The key is win outside of York County and the GOP has never had a candidate who could do that. And I do realize that Mulvaney lives in Lancaster County (although most folks up here will tell you that northern Lancaster County is hardly distinguishable from northern York County) but I don’t think that will make much difference in this race. Senate Dist. 16 is essentially a City of Lancaster, Indian Land, Fort Mill district. As noted above, Mulvaney lost the Lancaster portion of this district in 2008. The southern half of Lancaster County is more favorable for Democrats. When all is said and done, Mulvaney will lose Lancaster County, will win York by a few thousand votes, and lose the election by 10-12% ( and that’s being generous).
By Darkseid616 on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Spratt’s vote for the bailouts was a given from day one, keep in mind his brother in law is the former CEO of Bank of America Hugh McColl.If you think he’s not going to cover his family interests then one must really not understand either people or politics. That said is Spratt vunerable, if one looks at the 14 elections he has run the answer is yes,but it will take a ground swell effort not just by the GOP or conservatives but by the people of SC5 to get Spratt out. As far as this being his last term,we need to wait to see if we pick up a 7th Congressional district,othewise don’t look for to much change in the current Congressional lines.
By CNSYD on November 3rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Dardseid616, if we add a seat, will it be gerrymandered like before to “ensure” a black member in addition to the one we have presently? If yes, that could cost Spratt. However, lets not forget the Democrats will be in power for a while. It is advantageous to have a senior member on the inside. Members can stand on the outside and rant and rave, ala Paul in the House and Demint in the Senate, and no one on the inside in either party listens. So they are nothing but sound bites.
By Crooner on November 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Limits on frivolous lawsuits? Who gets to decide what is frivolous, beyond the presiding judge?
This old saw always reminds me of the definition of minor surgery: when they are operating on someone else.
Let’s state it in a truthful way: Mulvaney wants big business to have certainty about the cost involved in injuring consumers. And once the bean counters have that God help us all.
By AppleMan on November 3rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I realize the comment forum for FITS isn’t exactly the debate club at Cambridge (assuming there is such a club), but the comments so far about Mick (he’s arrogant, he “robbed” HOAs, he wants big business to…actually I’m not certain what that last comment is about) don’t speak much about what he has done in the legislature so far or what he’s saying he would do in the Congress. If he has a good message for the for the people of SC, then more power to him. I’ve actually had a beer or two with him, and I’d say he’s an above-average guy with a very clear view of what government should and shouldn’t do. I don’t really care where his kids go to school or when he moved to SC, so long as he is forthright about what he believes in so that people can decide for themselves if they want that kind of fellow representing them. I think the negative campaign for the Senate seat made clear that the personal attacks have limited value (I know I am weary of them). Let’s focus on what the candidates are actually legislatin’. From what I’ve heard/seen from Mick and Spratt, I’d be casting my vote for the former.
By CNSYD on November 3rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Crooner, you left out “free markets” and “less government paperwork and bureaucracy”. The boys on Wall St will love the sound of that. They don’t need regulation, they only have your best interests at heart, right? The credit card industry and banks? Why they are just trying to get by on those little fees they charge. I read just today that country clubs are hurting. Well if we would just let all these Wall St, big bank, etc. guys alone they will make sure the clubs are taken care of. You wouldn’t want the clubs to fail would you?
By Logic Connection on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
York County Native, you’re right. Until the SCGOP gets behind a solid effort at getting out the vote in the rest of the 5th District, it doesn’t matter who the Republicans run, they’ll lose. York and Lancaster alone are never going to be enough to win the GOP the election. There are plenty of conservative voters in Marlboro, Chesterfield, etc, but the SCGOP puts forth very little effort in the Pee Dee to earn their votes. But good luck to Mulvaney nonetheless.