SCDems News
S.C. Dems make case for blue November
August 8, 2008
Despite 28 years of Republican presidential wins in South Carolina, state Democrats are already eagerly participating in nominee Barack Obama's plans to compete in all 50 states this year, the state party's new executive director said Friday in Myrtle Beach.
The Illinois senator has made highly-publicized claims about sending paid staff members to lead campaign efforts in each state. While some had speculated that Obama offices in rigidly Republican states might merely be a ploy to raise money or support for efforts in swing states, S.C. Democratic Party executive director Jay Parmley made no mention of working for North Carolina or any other state in a morning address to the Beach Dems.
"We are far more energized and far more excited than Republicans,'' Parmley said. "There's not any reason South Carolina can't turn blue.''
In South Carolina, President George W. Bush beat both Al Gore and John Kerry by wide margins in 2000 and 2004 -- about 16 points and 250,000 votes. In the 1990s, however, Bill Clinton lost his two elections by much closer margins -- five points and 69,000 votes in 1996, or nine points and 98,000 votes in 1992.
Those figures, Parmley said, can be overcome by registering new voters and making sure they vote. In the state's black community alone, Parmley said various estimates show between 50,000 and 250,000 voting-age adults who are not registered.
"Now, that's enough to win, and that's just one demographic,'' Parmley said. "Many of the people who are not registered to vote are our voters.''
Parmley pointed out that the Kerry campaign in 2004, by contrast, only had offices in about 19 states it considered winnable.
"You have to have somebody on the ground to have a fighting chance to win,'' Parmley said.
State Democrats have also already begun hiring their own coordinators, dividing the state into six regions. Horry will be among eight counties headed up by Lance Jones, the state party's regional field director.
Obama's 50-state strategy has the added benefit, Parmley said, of lifting Democrats' chances for other offices. A presidential race invariably attracts campaign activity from people outside the party's normal mainstream, he said, and their energy can add to Democratic vote totals in more local races.
If South Carolina does land in Obama's column, Parmley noted, one of his official Electoral College votes will be cast by a Beach Dem. Sally Howard, a longtime Horry County Democrat, was chosen this week as one of the state's eight Democratic Party electors.
The Sun News
