By FITSNews || South Carolina’s “Godfather of Pork” is actively recruiting candidates to run against two Republican House members in Florence County, sources tell FITS.
He’s also working behind the scenes on behalf of a Democrat in a high-profile U.S. Congressional race.
Powerful Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman (RINO-Florence) – the diminutive socialist who basically writes South Carolina’s $20 billion budget each year – is reportedly putting his favor factory to work lining up opponents to run against Republican Reps. Kris Crawford and Phil Lowe.
In fact, sources tell FITS that longtime Leatherman confidant Fred Carter was in Columbia, S.C. last Thursday helping organize the effort against the two GOP lawmakers.
Leatherman – a party-switching Democrat – has been in the State Senate since 1981 (although it feels like he’s been there since 1881). Along with fellow party-switchers Luke Rankin and Billy O’Dell, he is generally regarded as the most liberal member of the S.C. Senate “Republican” Caucus. In fact, Leatherman was the only Republican to score a “0″ (out of 100) on the S.C. Club for Growth’s recently-released legislative scorecards.
Both Crawford and Lowe – who have been making inroads with the local Tea Party movement – are viewed as possible primary opponents against Leatherman two years from now, which makes them natural political targets of the “Leninist Lilliputian.”
Sources say Leatherman has already selected someone from the local business community to run against Crawford (who is a doctor), while a local attorney has been tapped to challenge Lowe (a physical therapist).
Despite his recent health problems, the 78-year-old Leatherman insists he is running for reelection in 2012 – and he had over $600,000 in his political war chest at the end of the most recent reporting period.
In addition to his immediate political motivations, sources tell FITS that Leatherman is furious with Crawford for his involvement with the Congressional campaign of fiscally conservative S.C. Sen. Mick Mulvaney – one of a handful of Republicans in the State Senate who has been fighting to block the implementation of Leatherman’s big government agenda.
Leatherman has been working behind the scenes in support of incumbent Democrat John Spratt in the Fifth District race.
Given Leatherman’s efforts against so many sitting Republican elected officials, FITS attempted to get SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd’s thoughts on this situation – to no avail.
Rather than saying something like “we’re going to do what we should have done years ago and cut this cancer out of our party,” a spokesman for Floyd declined to comment on Leatherman’s electioneering.
Welcome to the SCGOP, people …
By Helen February 21, 2010 at 4:22 pm
In person, Leatherman looks to be about 4′ 11″ tall.
That puts him in the same league with Napoleon Bonaparte.
By Todd February 21, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Leatherman is also a Jean Toal (yellow dog Democrat)ally. Chris Crawford has Toal’s number about her dictatorship of the judicial discipline system and the attorney discipline system. This should be interesting.
By countryboy February 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or dwarf dictator) of the Pee Dee.
By MOHANNA February 21, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Leatherman became a Republican after losing the Democratic Gubernatorial Nomination against Lt. Gov. Mike Daniels and Ambassador Phil Lader. Leatherman is not an ineffective Senator for his district. Leatherman is just more successful than most SC Assembly members. Leatherman puts his Interests and those of his district above anything else.
By The GOP February 21, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Never, ever, count on the SC GOP, Inc. to help a conservative. They are insiders, and as such have no political philosophy at all, only the need egotistical drive for power and cheap fame. They will always side with the incumbent and the big spending republican as they tend to profit most from that type.
By you are wrong February 21, 2010 at 6:31 pm
The truth is this: Leatherman does not “basically write” the budget every year. though he has a major say in it for sure there are 2 House members (not Harrell) who get there way more so than Leatherman. You can tell me I’m wrong but I see this en person.
By Mike Reino February 21, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Interesting, but I’m not sure if any of this is more than hearsay at this point. Leatherman will not be beaten in Florence County. He is the local meal ticket, and he has too much power. No matter how much you guys in Cola would like to see him go, it ain’t happening. No one will be running against him anytime soon. Remember Crawford having to dispel the rumors back in 2007 about the same thing? Either could be a successor, neither is a challenge right now.
There are whispers that County Chair Joe Griffin is looking into running some time, but he lives in Crawford’s area, and was basically his right hand man when Crawford got elected in 2006. Kris helping Mick is just natural – his home is in the 5th after all.
Lowe’s district misses all the GOP hotspots in Flotown, so it’d have to be a next door neighbor, or someone between there and Sumter. Lowe is more of a Tea Party favorite than Kris, judging by Crawford’s sponsoring Gresham Barrett’s appearance at the Florence GOP meeting on Thursday… I’d guess that in 2012, all three will be right where they are – just 2 years older.
By Garnet Spy February 21, 2010 at 7:16 pm
If true, and I have no doubt it is if posted here, the SC GOP should censure Leatherman and withdraw any and all support.
By No Way! February 21, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Kris Crawford is one of only a few legislators that respects the public dollar. That is the reason he is targeted by Leatherman. Send Leatherman and Spratt home! Both can go to the retirement center together and eat pork!
By Mike at the beach February 21, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Most politicians just suck. A little inelegant, I suppose, but true nonetheless. Check out the last two paragraphs from Al Haig’s obit/feature in yesterday’s NYT:
***
He was brutally candid about his own run for office and his subsequent distaste for political life. “Not being a politician, I think I can say this: The life of a politician in America is sleaze,” he told the authors of “Nixon: An Oral History.”
“I didn’t realize it until I started to run for office,” he said. “But there is hardly a straight guy in the business. As Nixon always said to me — and he took great pride in it — ‘Al, I never took a dollar. I had somebody else do it.’ ”
***
“…hardly a straight guy in the business.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. No straight gals either- Floyd must be trying to do a McMaster- use the party apparatchiks to build her network for some future run- can’t tick off SC’s littlest socialist if that’s the plan.
By Pee Dee Insider February 21, 2010 at 9:50 pm
me thinks the source is the Mr. Crawford. Of course the fact is Crawford is vulnerable as his negatives are high and Lowe, well he’s a nice guy but thinks a lot of himself, and almost got beat by a no name D in 2008. Agree with Leatherman’s politics or not, he’s very well liked in the Pee Dee area and put his community and district before party…you know the people that elect him.
By Imitation is... February 22, 2010 at 7:51 am
Ironic…Leatherman and Sanford are enemies but both try to defeat their fellow party members…Oh but wait, Leatherman is really a Dem and Sanford is a Libertarian so they are only wolves in sheeps clothing or vice versa.
By James F. February 22, 2010 at 9:04 am
Hugh is a Democrat and has always been a Democrat. He changed to the Republican Party because his kingdom was Republican. We need to cut this Party crap out it is nothing but a charade.
By Pluvlaw February 22, 2010 at 10:46 am
Let’s not forget we’re talking about Florence here. The same place where the current Sheriff ran to get into office as a Democrat, then switched. The same place where the local Republican establishment talked at least one candidate out of challenging DINO Mayor Frank Willis last election. The same place where once Willis lost his 13-year incumbency to a real Democrat in the primary, the Republican establishment dusted off a former DINO mayor and had him run as an “independent” (spending a whopping $300k in just 3 months). The same place where former Democratic party chairs did robobcalls endorsing that “independent” candidate as the “one true Democratic candidate.” The same place where just about every elected Democrat in the area endorsed that independent candidate. The same place that resulted in an election challenge dispute in that mayoral race, wherein the state Democratic party refused to defend their own decision when Willis challenged the party decision in both circuit court and the state Supreme Court.
In all candor, if you want something done in Florence, you do it yourself. You don’t count on either party for any help, because there is no such thing as party loyalty. It’s the Magic City, baby.
By sid February 22, 2010 at 11:03 am
I’m not sure I’d describe Lowe’s 58%-42% win in ’08 as him having “almost got beat.”
By Weighing In February 22, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I agree Sid, I think Lowe was more concerned early on, but in reality if a quality D were to run that seat, Lowe would still win, but it would be much closer.
By Jeff February 22, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Leatherman trying to OWN even more lawmakers?
He’s stopping at nothing to get Ken Ard elected Lt Gov and doing his best to create his own little cartel.
There’s a reason these guys win in heavy Dem areas like Florence. They are RINOs.
Get rid of them and elect true conservatives.
By Richard February 22, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Leatherman should be banned from anything Republican. Crawford is a go where the house leadership wind blows, although as of this past year got to big for even his owb britches. Lowe is a tag along. He can be so much better, but look at the company he keeps.
I actually blame the SCGOP, until they step up and support conservatives, incumbant or not, the republican party will widdle away. Everyone of Leadership in the Houise and Senate is a Democrat, period.
By sid February 22, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Maybe, WI, but a quality D wouldn’t have the Barry-factor helping this time around, and who knows if the Barry-factor will help at all in 2012? Lowe seemed to outperform McCain in Florence and Sumter counties, but that’s just based on a quick glance at numbers, rather than a detailed analysis. I think even a quality D would have difficulty making any future races close, and I’m not even convinced one could narrow the gap by much, if at all.
By Columbia Insider February 22, 2010 at 2:33 pm
In that pic Hugh looks like Michael Corleone in the last scene of Godfather II, looking forlornly out at Lake Tahoe, contemplating his recent murder of Fredo. “Kris Crawford, you broke my heart!”
By GOPinsider February 22, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Rumor has it Crawford already has a consultant lined up to run his state senate bid. It shouldn’t be too much of a shock who it is. Lowe would never run against Leatherman, that’s a silly thought. However, if it comes down to Lowe v.s. Crawford, Lowe wins hands down.
By Unbelievable February 23, 2010 at 1:05 pm
If Leatherman is running a show like this… he needs to be removed from his powerful committee and let him sweep the floors…. For how many years have we heard of this horses rear-end drag the legislature down a sorry path… Who cares he has seniority…. He also has senility take him out.
By WorkingTommyC March 2, 2010 at 7:25 am
So, Leatherman is doing the same thing as Lindsey Gaham and John McCain: running liberals against conservatives in the Republican primaries.
McLoser and Gaham are attempting to use the Tea Party backlash against them and other big government RINOs and liberals to their advantage. Here’s their website outlining their political jujitsu:
http://www.countryfirstpac.com/candidate/default.aspx