The South Carolina primary will be Tuesday, June 10, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and will determine candidates for state and local offices, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, the S.C. House of Representatives and Senate, county council and other appointed offices. Voters will then decide whom they choose to vote for during the general election on November 4, which is the decisive moment in the presidential race.
Five months away from the general election, those who have yet to register to vote still have some time. The last day to register to vote in the general election is October 4; while Sen. John McCain is the presumed Republican nominee for president, the Democratic race continues between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. This will likely change prior to publication – I heard on the news this morning that she may pull out this week. As the general election nears, more speculation is being made about whom each candidate will choose as a running mate.
The vice presidential candidates of the major political parties are formally selected by each party’s convention. Delegates place the names of candidates into nomination, followed by a ballot in which candidates much receive a majority to secure the party’s nomination. In practice, the presidential nominee has considerable influence on the decision, selecting a preferred running mate, who is then nominated and accepted by the convention. The Democratic National Convention will be August 25-28 in Denver, and the Republican National Convention will be September 1-4 in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
Republican Candidates for the U.S. Senate:
Lindsey Graham – He was first elected to serve as a United States Senator on November 5, 2002. During his time in the Senate, he has fought to balance the federal budget, provide tax relief to all taxpayers, keep the military adequately funded and prepared, and return control of education back to parents and teachers.
Buddy Witherspoon – Since 1996, he has served as the state’s Committeeman to the Republican National Committee. Illegal immigration is his topline issue. He believes English should be the official language for the country, and all legal immigrants should be required to both read and write it with proficiency before earning citizenship. He opposes any form of amnesty for illegal aliens. He supports the elimination of the death tax and reducing tax rates wherever possible, making those cuts permanent to stimulate growth. He is not willing to set a deadline for troop withdrawal, and he supports the repeal of No Child Left Behind.
Republican Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives:
Joe Wilson – Before being elected to the United States Congress in 2001, Wilson served 17 years with perfect attendance in the South Carolina State Senate. For immigration issues, Wilson believes in enforcing the laws that are currently on the books and securing the nation’s borders. He would reauthorize the Higher Education Act and No Child Left Behind. He would support remaining on the offense in the Global War on Terrorism and the acceleration of training of Iraqi and Afghani security forces. He supports all sources of alternative fuels, the utilization of natural resources and a revamp of the energy infrastructure and increased domestic production of oil and natural gas.
Robert Miller - A Marine captain who served two tours in Iraq, Miller came back home understanding the importance of safe neighborhoods and schools, good roads and bridges, decent health care, and most importantly, new jobs geared to the highpaying opportunities of the global economy. He believes in an America that thrives with economic security and prosperity, where people can live without fear of losing their homes, savings, or retirement and can afford to send children to college. He believes in an America where children have access to the best health care in the world and an America that has the best schools and opportunities available to every child.
Democratic Candidates for the U.S. Senate:
Michael Cone – Cone seeks to represent the people of South Carolina and speak for them in Washington. His campaign is about bringing the people together to build a better South Carolina and a stronger America by expanding opportunity to every person.
Bob Conley – Conley believes in securing the border and enforcing existing laws against those who illegally enter the country and those who hire and harbor them. He would support ending the occupation in Iraq and bringing home all military personnel as quickly as possible. He believes overseas deployments of occupation are breaking the military and that the National Guard needs to be rebuilt. He would support establishing an energy policy that ends the nation’s dependence on foreign oil by encouraging more energy production at home, promoting the development of alternative energy sources and encouraging the use of energy-saving technologies.
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives:
Blaine Lotz - Lotz wants to create jobs and build a new economy by ending our dependency on foreign oil, help fuel America through innovation, including agricultural products, and put South Carolina’s farmers at the forefront of that effort. He wants to honorably end US combat in Iraq, restore our nation’s greatness and respect in the world, repair our immigration program, establish a comprehensive health care program and solidify Social Security and Medicare, while also developing a strategic economic plan which will aid the middle class and our small businesses.
For more information regarding South Carolina elections and voting locations, please log on to scvotes.org.
Democratic Candidates for the S.C. Senate and S.C. State House of Representatives:
S.C. Senate District #45 - Bobby C. Mayes
S.C. Senate District #45 - Clementa Pinckney
S.C. Senate District #45 - Richmond Truesdale, Jr.
S.C. Senate District #46 - Kent Fletcher
S.C. House of Rep. District #121 - Kenneth F. Hodges
S.C. House of Rep. District #122 - Curtis Brantley
S.C. House of Rep. District #122 - Libbie H. Green
S.C. House of Rep. District #122 - R. Keith Horton
S.C. House of Rep. District #122 - Thayer Rivers, Jr.
S.C. House of Rep. District #124 - James A. Brown, Jr.
Republican Candidates for the S.C. State House of Representatives:
S.C. Senate District #46 – Tom Davis
S.C. Senate District #46 – Catherine Ceips
S.C. House of Rep. District #118 - Bill Herbkersman
S.C. House of Rep. District #123 - Stu Rodman
S.C. House of Rep. District #123 - Richard Chalk
S.C. House of Rep. District #123 – Starletta Hairston
S.C. House of Rep. District #124 – Shannon Erickson
14th Circuit Solicitor – Duffie Stone
Democratic Candidates for Beaufort County Council:
Beaufort County Council District #5 - William L. McBride
Beaufort County Council District #6 - Gerald Dawson
Beaufort County Council District #8 - Herbert N. Glaze
Beaufort County Council District #9 - Katherine Hatchett
Republican candidates for county and local offices:
Clerk of Court
Elizabeth M. Smith
PR “Radar” Caulder
W. Warren Alston
Coroner
Edward Allen
County Council 9
Brian E. Flewelling
Bill Bootle
Thomas (Tommy) J. O’Brien
