By FITSNews || There will be no runoff. At least not as far as South Carolina Democrats are concerned.
S.C. Senator Vincent Sheheen – who hails from one of the Palmetto State’s most prominent political families – eviscerated State Superintendent Jim Rex in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, drawing a whopping 61 percent of the vote with nearly two-thirds of the state’s 2,100 precincts reporting.
Most polls showed Sheheen ahead of Rex as the campaign entered its final phase, although few predicted the huge margins he was enjoying on election night.
Rex started the race with a considerable advantage over Sheheen in terms of visibility given his status as the only Democrat elected to statewide office in 2006. Sheheen, on the other hand, raised vast sums of money to build up his name recognition while Rex’s campaign struggled to raise money.
Also, Rex was dogged by the ongoing failure of South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation public school system, which has continued to produce abysmal results under his tenure despite record funding increases.
We’ll obviously be back with the final margin of victory, but the extent of Sheheen’s shellacking of Rex ranks as one of the first surprises of Primary Night 2010 …
By theoriginaljustme June 8, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Soooo happy. Rex is all ambition; he does not cae about the job, just the title. Go, Vince, go.
By Gary June 8, 2010 at 9:48 pm
HALEY CROSSES 50%%%
Governor – REP (Vote For 1)
CONTEST DETAIL MAP
16 of 46 Counties Reporting
Percent Votes
Gresham Barrett (REP) 20.26% 33,666
Andre Bauer (REP) 10.64% 17,690
Nikki R Haley (REP) 50.42% 83,792
Henry McMaster (REP) 18.68% 31,042
By TaylorSC June 8, 2010 at 9:52 pm
This is better than I hoped!
By Ugh June 8, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Go Sheheen, Gooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s hoping Haley wins the Repub nod. The drama will continue, and it’ll hand Sheheen the gov’s seat. If she wins it all, though, the legislators all hate her, and she’ll accomplish nothing. Win-win.
By ceilidh10 June 8, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Go Vince !
By poster June 8, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Wow. This is a solid Dem victor vs. a certain to be Fractured Republican leadership which means Sen. Sheheen has a fighting chance to win.
By countryboy June 8, 2010 at 10:09 pm
He might have pummeled Rex (it was like running unopposed) but the number of voters who voted for Governor in the Republican primary was more than double those voting in the Democrat primary.
By David Weasley June 8, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Sheheen will be our next Governor!!!!!
By matthewb June 8, 2010 at 10:18 pm
sane minds will elect sheheen in the general.
not that SC has enough sane minds to matter…..
By David Weasley June 8, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I hope they boot Haley in the runoff, we are all tired of the Sanfraud slutyness!!
By TaylorSC June 8, 2010 at 10:31 pm
countryboy, you can’t really go by the numbers in the primaries – there were more Democratic primary voters than Repulican voters in the 2008 SC primaries, yet the Republicans took the general in SC that year..it has a lot to do with voter interest and the Republicans surely made it very interesting to say the least, this year. Now the Dems just have to rally the troops for November. And it can be done.
By Mike June 8, 2010 at 10:35 pm
I am very pleased that the race is between Sheheen and Nikki …. Governor Sheheen…now that sounds great.
By Cyrus June 8, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Sheheen is a “born” politician-lawyer and learned it from his family.
Haley is a business person and learned it from her family.
We will have a choice of “more of the same” legislative hand-washing or something fresh.
I believe Haley can cooperate with the legislature without capitulating to it.
Not so with Sheheen.
We shall see “where their money comes from.”
Perhaps Sic Willie can keep us up to date on the “money spigot.”
For example, who will the SC Trial Lawyers Association give to?
By Confederati June 8, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Man, what a vapid victory speech. I’ve never listened to this guy before, and he’s really bad.
By matthewb June 8, 2010 at 11:27 pm
a lawyer is also a “business person”…whatever that means
Haley is the epitome of more of the same, and there is not a chance she would ever cooperate with a legislative body. It’s not in her program, as she has clearly defined. She will be the champion of do-nothingness…
If you truly want more of what’s wrong with SC, vote for her.
By Silence Dogood June 9, 2010 at 12:02 am
Countryboy, it could be an indicator, but other factors certainly play in the total number of votes cast – which do not usually correlate to the general election to any high degree. Republican’s had three hotly contested wide open Congressional contests, likely sending the number much higher than they usually would be – as well as a 3-4 way viable governor’s race (not to mention contested AG races and a wide open Lt. Gov. race). The Dems was only a potentially 2 way viable governor’s race, and not AG, or Lt. races to speak of. Do Repubs. enjoy tremendous party identification in S.C. over, Dems – most certainly.
However, I have a great Campaign slogan:
Vote Sheheen – He Definately Did NOT Sleep with Nikki Haley.
Vote Sheheen – because, hey, hasn’t Nikki Haley screwed enough South Carolinians already?
By The Colonel June 9, 2010 at 2:01 am
No Silence Dogood, Sheheen hasn’t screwed Nikki (nor has Sic for that matter) but Democrats have screwed this state for 80% of the last 100 years. Even with real opposition, Haley drew as many votes as your boy (as in good old boy) Sheheen – we’ll see how things play out in November.
I can see 4 more years of republican rule even from over here in Iraq.
By Josephine June 9, 2010 at 2:31 am
Hillary Clinton and now Jim Rex – this is “definitely” not a good track record for KELLY ADAMS – LMBO
By Runargorun June 9, 2010 at 8:42 am
Time to run the Republicans out of office in SC.
Look what they’ve given us – we’re the laughing stock of the country. Sanford’s dramaqueen mid-life crises, Bauer’s ironic racism and intolerance (he is the pot calling the kettle gay, after all), Eckstrom’s love emails and taking State money for his family vacation, McMaster’s idiotic fight with craigslist, T-Rav’s bust for coke, Nikki Haley slutting around, Jake Knotts being a stupid redneck asshole etc. etc. etc. Great for late-night comics, but bad for us. While these guys are re-enacting lost episodes of ‘Dynasty’ the state of SC is falling to pieces.
By CSOL 2L June 9, 2010 at 9:22 am
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is Vincent Sheheen. He’ll calm the storm brought by all of the tea bagging, methinks. Bring it, Vince!
By political hack June 9, 2010 at 9:43 am
They don’t teach politics at CSOL, only how to be a Democratic hack like myself. On that note I apologize for our only retort arguing valid political issues are that the conservative side of the argument is a “stupidhead,” “idiot,” “slut,” “retard,” “He is from fucking Georgia, why is he even in South Carolina?” and the list goes on. Lets go Sheheen! I can’t wait to see that ol pick up truck sittin’ outside the Statehouse! It will be like South Carolina’s own Good ol’ boy mascot car, just like the Dukes had the General Lee…we just need a really old south name that represents what we stand for. How about the Colonel Clyburn?
By Confederati June 9, 2010 at 9:47 am
Haley will have the Budget & Control Board on her side…
By D2D June 9, 2010 at 10:13 am
Just to think, the Rex campaign thought that Robert Ford was naïve enough to believe in the “we care” about you act, and I’ll be the first to name it “Bill Number 69″, because you built your campaign upon Ford dropping out and you got screwed. The Rex campaign pretended to care while thinking that they would get all of Ford’s votes. Well lunatics, the plan screwed you! You laughed at Robert Ford behind his back, but who’s laughing now? The Rex team thought that he was a nonfactor, but by a look at the polls last night, he almost caught up with you (too funny). Well that’s all folks and I would like to thank Senator Ford for not dropping out of the race and congrats to Senator Sheheen on his big win!
By How Could You June 9, 2010 at 10:18 am
That’s right libs. Attack a minority female while voting for the white man.
By The Colonel June 9, 2010 at 10:22 am
Runargorun – the Democrats brought us Riley, Tennebaum and Rex – they may have only been statewide jokes but they did far more harm to the state than the Love Guv or Dumb Ass Jakie Knotts. At least Sanford kept us from going budget nuts.
Democrats had 80 of the last 100 years to make a difference, you blew your chance. Good old boy Republicans have not been much better frankly. Why don’t we try something a little different? If it doesn’t work out, in 4 years, you can throw Haley out.
Electing Sheheen is the moral equivalent of putting a dumber version of Hodges back into office.
By Silence Dogood June 9, 2010 at 11:02 am
Colonel, actually Riley was a good Governor for this state. While I am sure you probably dispute that fact out of hand (I mean he was a Democrat right?), I actually have little in the way of delisions of granduer that Sheheen has much of a chance of winning even if orgy tapes of Haley and the population of the state of Texas are played on a running clip on WIS from now until election day (state of California…O.K. maybe that might help Shehee or a write in candidate).
Essentially, it doesn’t matter how badly Repulican’s screw up this state -and continue to do so – I believe you are right that S.C. voters will continue to put them in office. I like your logic with the last “80 of 100 years,” (Hollings was a fantastic governor for business, education and otherwise) regarding Democrats, obviously you are speaking of just the legislature?
Nonetheless, if Republicans keep up their excellent and unblemished track record of running this state into the dirt for the next 60+ years forward, I guess you will be ready for a change old boy???
By Inherent Vice June 9, 2010 at 11:47 am
Still trying to figure out why SC liberals hate the black man so much. Dang didn’t even give the guy a chance.
By Step to the Right June 9, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Riley tried and so did Campbell and they both got 8 years – It was not enough to get real change.
“Conservative” Republicans do not run this state. Idiot Liberal Democrats and idiot RINO Democrats who changed parties run this state. Our Governor has no real power; the Legislature runs this state and party affiliation is a fallacy! We are the only state with a Budget and Control Board, the only state that runs a statewide public school bus system, the only state that still has a Reconstruction Constitution that gives 100% of power and control to those who get idiots at the local level to elect them for 50+ years. The list of bad policies goes on and on. We get what we vote for on both sides of the psuedo-aisle.
If you don’t believe it, just check out how many buildings, bridges, roads, schools, hospitals and public parks are named for former governors. Wake up people.
By Silence Dogood June 9, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Step to the Right, Texas and several other southern states have late 1800′s style constitutions (like ours) that are premised in large part of the primary task of keeping governmental powers away from the governor and in the legislature’s hands. Some states have done well with this format, others have not.
By vicupstate June 9, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Robert Ford has been a gadfly, confederate flag defender, since day 1. He is not taken seriously by anyone. His race had nothing to do with him doing poorly.
Rex thought that name recognition alone would carry him, even with no money. Sorry, Jim, should’ve stuck to what you knew.
Sheheen needs some ‘polish’ but he is capable of being the winner come Nov.2 if he plays his cards right.
By Deacon Dick June 9, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Way to go! Carry-on the great Sheheen name. Best to tyou.
By Sally June 9, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Well at least we know there are some who will vote for a “good ole boy democrat who has relatives have been in political office.” Plus, your party votes for people who don’t even campaign.. Then, todays news is…..Oh my!
Yet many accuse Nikki of being a slut when in fact.. YOU DON”T KNOW YOU WERE NOT THERE or WERE YOU? I mean some of you act as though the deed was done. Man!
By eggaday June 9, 2010 at 11:08 pm
funny though, Sheheen doesn’t give a rip about the people of this state.
By C20H26N2O June 9, 2010 at 11:35 pm
I want to hear you dems explain Alvin Greene. That’s hillarious. Absolutely proves what I have said all along. Dems are stupid.. stupid …stupid…ignorant handle-pullers. Enslaved by their E-lites.
By Bobby June 10, 2010 at 11:47 am
All of you Democrats who are talking such shit about the Rex Campaign should refer back to this when they all sit home for the next 5 months and watch you get your asses kicked by the Republicans.
Sheheen camp: just remember, the same people who nominated you also nominated Alvin Greene. Congratulations.
By oh my June 10, 2010 at 12:29 pm
C20H26N2O – I will just assume that’s your prison number?
While the Greene debacle is a perhaps a well deserved, but certainly self inclicted kick tot he guts of many democrats – it bears noting that many, many, many shameful debacles have happened for Dems and Repubs a like – and most certainly this will rank up there for the dems. But going flying, or driving with Bauer, snorting coke with Ravenell, cock fighting (the birds) with former the Sec. of Ag. or just taking a quick hike down the Applicahain trail are all Republican oriented political activities – you certianly wouldn’t want to be caught in a graveyard with Former Assitant AG Corning.
Nonethless, when it comes to S.C. politics EVERYONE who claims the Dem. or Repub. party has A LOT to be embarrassed about.