Inez Tannenbaum (D) running for Senate (South Carolina)

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum said Wednesday she will run for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings' seat.

The 52-year-old Tenenbaum was the leading vote-getter in the 2002 election, when she won re-election. She is a former school teacher and attorney who lives in Lexington County.

Hollings said earlier this month he would not seek re-election in 2004 to the seat he first won in 1966.

Sam Tenenbaum says a poll done for his wife shows her beating four Republicans in the race. They are 4th District Rep. Jim DeMint, former Attorney General Charlie Condon, Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.

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http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/13/hollings.successor.ap/index.html

It would seem as though the Dems have a front runner in this race, one of the seats the Dems need to keep to have any hope of maintaining a close senate. Any South Carolinians to shed some light on the current situation for this race down there?

Mellman group released a poll of her getting 48% against the top 3 Republican contenders while they were all in the mid-30s. I'd have to say the Republicans will have a tough time beating her.

We have a chance at winning!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I've heard that Tenenbaum is very popular in SC, and she is clearly our best (and probably only) chance at holding this seat.

:-) :-) :-)

But, the Repubs do NOT want any Dem in that seat and it will get filthy dirty down here. Alot will depend on the top of the ticket. This is a military state with the second largest number of retired military, too. A presidential candidate with military credentials WILL matter in states like SC for the rest of the ticket.

on edit: I think Fritz Hollings will be joining Max Cleland to let veterans know exactly the real agenda of the Bush administration. Hollings is highly respected here by many oldtimers and traditional conservatives.

nt

The same for NC and Georgia. Think of the Senate, think of Congress. Those are alot of seats.

The good news is that veterans ARE organizing to campaign AGAINST Bush in 2004. The effect they will have on the electorate should not be discounted. This will be the largest organization effort of vets ever to campaign.

Whoooooooooooo....

This is the best news that I've heard all week. I really think that we can keep this seat now. I know it's probably too soon to know when her campaign website will be up, but if someone nows, please post here.

Now all we need is for Andy Young to run in Georgia!

We can take Southern seats. I really believe it wholeheartedly.

I also think that we can win Southern seats. Most of 2004 will be about playing defense to the six Southern seats that we have (Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Louisiana) and we could beat Sen. Jim Bunning in Kentucky (Don't know if that is usually counted as a Southern state). However, in 2006, there will be golden opportunities in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Virginia.

She is our best candidate possible in this race. We have a top tier candidate here. However, in order for her to win, she is going to have to get a lot of split ticketing. But we do have a top tier candidate. And what was a "Lean Republican" seat now goes to tossup.

but I actually feel more optimistic with her than had Fritz run again. I think people will welcome a younger face. I think with Strom and Fritz people in the state were tiring of somebody serving until they were 100 years old.

I also think that people will like a fresher face in the Senate. She has the ability to be a really great senator and to gain national attention, even within her first term. She definitely needs money, however.

On a side note, South Carolina has had at least one Democrat representing them in the Senate since 1877.