Challengers to South Carolina Senator Are Lining Up on the Right

The New York Times ^ | August 25, 2013 | Kim Severson

[Resettozero]

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — Some of the early shots in the Republican primary battle against Senator Lindsey Graham have been fired from this tiny community on the northern border of the state where the Civil War began.

Mr. Graham's challengers so far in the Republican primary campaign include Nancy Mace, the first woman to graduate from the Citadel.

A small group called Carolina Conservatives United, one of dozens organized loosely under the flag of limited government, low taxes and strict adherence to the Constitution, sent out images last week of a milk carton bearing Mr. Graham’s face and asked Gov. Nikki R. Haley to issue the state’s version of an Amber Alert to find its missing senator.

“Lindsey Graham has not been seen in the state of South Carolina for most of the last two years,” said Bruce Carroll, the chairman of the group.

Conservatives in South Carolina are eager to oust Mr. Graham, who has enraged the far right for, among other things, reaching across the aisle on immigration and supporting President Obama’s nominations for the Supreme Court. Tea Party supporters called him a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood when, instead of heading home for the Congressional break this month, he went to Egypt at the request of the president.

But to stand a chance against the politician who succeeded Strom Thurmond in 2003, conservatives will have to win a civil war of their own. At least 40 groups align themselves along Tea Party and Libertarian lines, and trying to unify them to topple the state’s senior senator will be no easy task.

[wardaddy]

unless South Carolina has closed primary and run offs

multiple candidates ensure Graham wins

here in TN we can run only one against Lamar

[Resettozero]

Open primary, 50%+ required to avoid run-off. More the merrier, a la Texas’ Ted Cruz.

[lonevoice]

Actually, the number of primary challengers is unimportant. If Graham fails to get 50% of the vote, it forces a runoff between the top two vote getters. That would be when the real primary fight occurs, and if SC voters are pissed off enough, Graham will be tossed out.

Good post with good information, thank you. Assuming a runoff is forced, and it certainly looks possible, Graham's challenger can expect campaign donations from all across the nation.

[MovementConservative]

I am really hoping Tim Scott has clear sailing. He would be as worthy a successor for DeMint as I could hope.

[MovementConservative]

When Sen Hatch had a tea party challenger, Mark Levin and others stepped up to defend him and make sure the Senate still had it’s old bulls.

[Resettozero]

I agree. We are electing TWO U.S. Senators next year and, since he’s been relatively quiet, it’s easy to forget Tim Scott has to be elected for the first time.

[Wuli]

I hope the SC Conservatives whittle their support down to one and the best one, and NOT leaving the Conservative vote split against the incumbant in the primary.

[lonevoice]

I’ll guarantee you that not a single one of the conservative talkers will support Graham.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Ask Linda Graham to describe a pink slip.

[neal1960]

“...and if SC voters are pissed off enough,” They are pissed. Believe me.I can’t find a single Linda supporter here in SC.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

I had this feeling Graham would lose the primary and then run third party against Scott. If there is some sort of benefit in running in that class.

[RipSawyer]

“...came across as being much better than John McCain’s friend.”
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My neighbor’s hound dog comes across as being much better than John McCain’s friend.

[Slings and Arrows]

SC / Lady Linda ping!

[upchuck]

Thanks for the ping S&A.

Uber RINO Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."

Want on or off this ping list?
Just FReepmail me

[VerySadAmerican]

They compare anyone going against Graham as a Civil War nut.

[Theodore R.]

I still fear that SC voters are too uninformed to defeat “Loveable Lindsey”.

[Postman]

One certainly would, were one a true pragmatist. It’s always better to win first and and come to necessary compromises afterwards.

[Postman]

You mean he became one of those political transvestites?

[Lancey Howard]

Good.
Primamry that punk’s ass outta there.

[Josa]

Graham’s challenger will get donations from all across the country