Tea Party activists endorse Grooms for governor

State Sen. Larry Grooms has won an early endorsement in his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination from two S.C. "Tea Party" activists.

The campaign announced Tuesday that organizers of the grass-roots, limited government activists had endorsed Grooms."While other Republicans were enjoying the pork and hiding their votes, Senator Grooms was building a caucus of a dozen other true conservatives and getting things done." Anderson Tea Party organizer Jonathon Hill said in a statement.

Quinn says he's running for Lexington State House seat

Former House majority leader Rick Quinn said he will run for the Lexington County House seat being vacated by Rep. Ted Pitts next year.

Quinn was a leading advocate for statewide tax reform, and despite a commission currently studying the tax code and a 2006 statewide property tax relief plan, there is still work needed to improve state tax code."I think I can have an impact," Quinn said.

Clyburn: Charleston brig meant for holding detainees

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat, said Tuesday he doesn't see any point in having a federal Navy brig in North Charleston is it's not used to hold detainees.

Recent media reports have surfaced that the White House may soon send Guantanamo Bay detainees to the state although such a transfer is not a new idea.

Columnist Kathleen Parker to speak at USC

Kathleen Parker, the S.C.-based conservative syndicated columnist, will speak at the University of South Carolina on Nov. 19.

Parker, whose columns appear in The State, has been invited by the School of Journalism and Mass Communications for its Buchheit Family Lecture Series.

Tea Party activists endorse Grooms for governor

State Sen. Larry Grooms has won an early endorsement in his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination from S.C. "Tea Party" activists.

The campaign announced Tuesday that organizers of the grass-roots, limited government activists had endorsed Grooms."While other Republicans were enjoying the pork and hiding their votes, Senator Grooms was building a caucus of a dozen other true conservatives and getting things done." Anderson Tea Party organizer Jonathon Hill said in a statement.

Barrett says he's backed bills to close S.C. to terror suspects

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett said he has sponsored three bills preventing the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees from being transferred to South Carolina, after gubernatorial rivals criticized his request they co-sign a letter to President Barack Obama opposing the move.

Obama has said he intends to close Guantanamo Bay, which has some, including Barrett, a Westminster Republican, worried some of the more than 200 terrorism suspects could be housed at a North Charleston naval brig.

Two fellow Republican candidates, Lexington Rep. Nikki Haley and Attorney General Henry McMaster, agreed to sign Barrett's letter but asked why Congress had not done anything to block the transfer.

Haley to Barrett: You can do more than write a letter

Lexington Rep. Nikki Haley, has accepted a gubernatorial rival's appeal to sign a letter opposing the transfer of terrorist suspects to a North Charleston naval prison.

But Haley, a Republican, noted that as a member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett has an opportunity to do more than write letters opposing the transfer -- he can introduce legislation to prevent the transfer.

McLeod to Barrett: "Take your letter and shove it"

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod has rejected a plea from Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett to write letters to President Barack Obama opposing the transfer of terrorism suspect to a North Charleston naval brig, telling Barrett to "take your letter and shove it."

Barrett, of Westminster, sent out his request to the nine other Democratic and Republican candidates yesterday.

But McLeod's response, released to the press, said that housing terrorists might be part of South Carolina's war effort.

"No one wants suspected terrorists on our soil while they await their richly-deserved punishment," McLeod wrote. "But when the President asks us to do our part in the international war on terrorism, the only appropriate response from this or any state’s Governor is 'Yes Sir, Mr. President.'"

A Wet Beginning

Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, just spilled his glass of water on the floor. Some landed on Sen. Larry Groom's pants leg. Oops! Thank goodness the cameras aren't running yet.

First Gubernatorial Debate Underway

  The first gubernatorial debate, featuring all ten candidates, will get underway in Orangeburg in the next few minutes. Each candidate will get one minute to answer. Each candidate gets a 30 second rebuttal.  ETV will air the program at 8 p.m. today. Stay tuned...

Three spots on DOT commission set to open

The General Assembly is seeking three people to fill soon-to-be-vacant slots on the state transportation commission.

The open seats include the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Lexington County and part of Richland County, the 6th Congressional District, which includes most of Richland County and the Pee Dee and the 4th Congressional District in the Upstate.