SCDems News
Local Democrats hopeful that numbers hold up for the general election
June 23, 2008
When Democrats turned out in unusually high numbers during February's presidential primaries, local party members bragged they were finally gaining traction in traditionally Republican pockets of the state.
But after last week's state and congressional elections in which an overwhelming number of voters cast ballots for GOP candidates, it was the Republicans' turn to brag.
"We had a good turnout and certainly outperformed the Democrats in a big way," said state Republican Party chairman Katon Dawson.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, who holds the 2nd Congressional District seat, won his primary with 44,783 votes. His November Democratic opponent, Rob Miller of Lady's Island, polled 16,911 votes, according to state Election Commission records.
Leaders of both parties say numbers in both elections provide clues to who will win in November.
Though Wilson faced only nominal opposition last week, the GOP's Dawson says the incumbent's bigger numbers reflect his popularity throughout the 10-county district, which stretches from Hilton Head Island to Columbia.
Carol Fowler, who chairs the state Democratic Party, said she doesn't think the lackluster Democratic numbers last week will translate into a poor showing in November. She said the vote counts are a reflection of several high profile Republican primaries, but don't have much bearing on the general election.
With Sen. Barack Obama atop their ticket in November, Fowler predicted Democratic voters will be a force to reckon with.
Blease Graham, a professor of political science at the University of South Carolina, agrees -- to a point.
"If anybody has coattails in South Carolina, and by that I mean enthusiasm, it's got to be Obama," he said. That could mean Democrats could do better than they have in the past.
But even with that boost, Graham said, the Palmetto State remains one of the country's most conservative and popular Republicans like Wilson will be hard to beat.
"I'm not saying it can't be done," Graham said, but "that's a hard sell down the line."
The GOP's Dawson predicted, however, that as Obama's positions on social and economic issues become clear to voters, they won't wear well.
"The issues he's wrapped himself around don't resonate with South Carolinians," Dawson said.
Dawson said state and congressional Democratic candidates would "run for cover from all his (positions) on social issues and economic issues that cut against the grain in their districts."
In challenging Wilson, however, Miller hasn't shied away from adopting Obama's general mantra of "change."
His campaign manager, Lachlan McIntosh, said attempts to lump Miller and Obama together as a way to tarnish the congressional challenger would backfire.
"I just don't think that that kind of silly politics works any more," McIntosh said. "If the Republicans want to keep this seat, they'll have to tell voters why they have the best candidate." Wilson's campaign manager didn't return calls seeking comment.
The Beaufort Gazette
