What's next in South Carolina?

With Senator Hollings retiring, is this an automatic Repub pickup? Anyone familiar with what will play out in this race?

I live here in SC and for some reason the angry white guys (which is around 80 percent of the men who live here) vote republican while the wifes do as they are told.
Hell if I can figure it out but my theory is that it all has to do with race.

is probably a guarantee unless Alex Sanders runs. He's probably the only candidate that could probably win the seat. Hollings mentioned him today during his PC.

Is that the right name? The guy who ran against Lindsey Graham? He seemed so much like Fritz Hollings -- and kept saying he would be like Hollings. But, in general, yea, it seems a pretty safe bet as a repug pick-up.

where some Democrat was only down by 5% against the Republican candidate (can't remember his name).

The Sec. of Education. She got more votes then any other democrat on a statewide ballot in '02. She's also pretty popular in the state. She was the one that was down by 5%, although it looks like Jim Demint has a pretty large war chest. Here are the candidates so far in SC:

the one's with asterisks are potential, otherwise they are official.
*Tommy Moore (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Businessman
*James Smith (D) - State House Minority Leader, Attorney & Army Reserve Officer
*Inez Tenenbaum (D) - State Superintendent of Education, Attorney & Ex-Teacher
*Rita Allison (R) - Ex-State Rep. & '02 Lt. Governor Candidate
*David Beasley (R) - Ex-Governor, Ex-State House Speaker Pro Tempore & Attorney
Charlie Condon (R) - Ex-Attorney General & '02 Governor Candidate
Jim DeMint (R) - Congressman & Ex-Businessman
Tommy Hartnett (R) - Ex-Congressman, Ex-State GOP Chairman & '92 Nominee
*Van Jenerette (R) - College Professor, Ex-Congressional Aide, Army Veteran & '00 Congressional Candidate
Mark McBride (R) - Myrtle Beach Mayor & Restaurant Owner
*Bob Peeler (R) - Ex-Lt. Governor, Agribusinessman & '02 Governor Candidate
Tom Ravenel (R) - Developer & Son of State Sen. Arthur Ravenel
*Knox White (R) - Greenville Mayor


from politics1.com

-Epoch

I think that if Inez runs all other Dems will back off. She is a strong candidate.

One thing that benefits the Dems is that there are several Repubs who will be fighting like dogs for the nomination and are likely to wound each other. I know that Condon and DeMint are very competitive for this seat.

whoever the Dem Senatorial candidate is will be running with the top of the ticket. Hollings was going to run when he was certain that Kerry was the nominee. He became uncertain over the surge by Dean (thanks, corporate media). Down south, those seeking congressional and senate seats want to be seen with military men and veterans on stage and in the audience.

Hollings shouldn't have felt that uncertainty. Kerry will win this by a safe margin if the machines aren't rigged.

How would Tenenbaum fare in the U.S. Senate race, if Kerry is at the top of the presidential ticket in 2004?

more likely with Kerry at the head of the ticket. Dean may suppress Inez's cross-over votes which have historically been heavy.

I just couldn't put my finger on it. Thanks, BLM!