Columbia’s Richland has been moving away from the GOP rapidly over the past quarter-century, so it isn’t particularly important which candidate carried it for the nomination (though it is telling that Willard would win it). Once the GOP became competitive in the state in the modern era, Richland could be considered reliably GOP up until 1990 (when it voted handily for both Strom Thurmond and Carroll Campbell).
From 1992 onwards, it voted solidly Democrat from President to Governor and Senator. GHW Bush was the last to carry it for President in 1988 when he got 53%. Unusually, Jim DeMint actually carried Richland for Senator in 2010, but with a 44% plurality (Lindsay Graham got 45%, but lost, in 2008). It was because Alvin Greene received just 34% (probably almost exclusively from Black voters in the county), while it was clear White Democrats supported the Green Party candidate Tom Clements, who got over 18% (twice as high as his statewide %). In the same election, Nikki Haley performed worse than Alvin Greene in Richland, getting only 31%(!)
These are the numbers for the Presidential races since 1960, so you can follow the decline in GOP performance in the county:
McCain - 35% (lost) (’08)
GW Bush - 42% (lost) (’04)
GW Bush - 43% (lost) (’00)
Dole - 41% (lost) (’96)
GHW Bush - 41% (lost) (’92)
GHW Bush - 53% (won) (’88)
Reagan - 57% (won) (’84)
Reagan - 49.9% (won) (’80)
Ford - 47% (lost) (’76)
Nixon - 64% (won) (’72)
Nixon - 51% (won) (’68)
Goldwater - 60% (won) (’64)
Nixon - 64% (won) (’60)
I have a question regarding the Republican priamry for the new 7th. Congressional District, which is safely Republican. None of the candidates seem to be the overwhelming favorite and I don’t know much about any of them except for Andre Bauer and what I know about Bauer isn’t good. I am intrigued by Horry County Councilman Tom Rice, who’s a CPA (we need more of those in Congress), but if he’s a RINO or establishment hack, I’d prefer someone else. Since the area is strongly Republican, we don’t have to worry about electability and go for the most conservative. Who would that be?