“Graham has all the money. All of these other candidates are going to split what’s left. Graham squeaks by with 52%.”
Yeah, I think that’s a real possibility. Therefore, the more candidates against Graham, the better for Graham, because they split the opposition-to-Graham vote. Why can’t they all get together and have their own informal Anti-Graham Caucus, and pick one candidate?
First they have to deny Graham a first round win in the primary, that probably means the more challengers the better. Force him into a runoff and then all the weak hands are eliminated and someone has a good chance to take the nomination in the runoff.
/johnny
Not when you understand how primaries work in South Carolina:
Voters who voted in a party's primary, can vote only in the runoff of the same party. Voters who did not vote in the primary, may vote in either party's runoff.
The primary is for Democratic and Republican candidates only. Candidates running unopposed for their Party's nomination will not appear on primary ballots.
Voters may not vote in a political party's runoff if they voted in another political party's primary. However, voters who did not vote in either politicial party's primary may vote in either politicial party's runoff.
A defeated primary candidate may not actively offer or campaign as a write-in candidate for the ensuing election. The use of posters or stickers on the ballot is not permitted. The voting machine provides for a voter to write-in a candidate. Write-in votes are not allowed in primary elections or the election of President or Vice-president.
While the state permits fusion (a candidate may be nominated by multiple parties), if a candidate runs for and looses a primary (of any party), the candidate cannot appear on the November ballot.