State Chief Information Officer questioned

Several department heads within state government questioned Tuesday the role of the State Chief Information Officer in delivering efficient services to S.C. residents.

Citing a recent report critical of the State Budget and Control Board, Gov. Mark Sanford’s chief counsel, Tom Davis, said the State Chief Information Officer is shrouded in secrecy.

The comments came during a Sanford cabinet meeting.

Davis and several department heads said the office refuses to explain the charges it assesses state agencies for goods and services the agencies need to serve residents. The Chief Information Officer is a major unit of the State Budget and Control Board, which oversees day-to-day operations of state government and billions of dollars in contracts and purchases.

Sanford wants the Control Board folded into an office directly under his control. A report issued in May said restructuring the agency could save $550 million.

McCain headed for Columbia next month

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will address the Columbia Rotary Club on Aug. 13, the senator’s presidential campaign said. McCain will speak at the local club, whose meetings begin at 12:30 p.m. at Seawell’s on Rosewood, across from the State Fairgrounds.

Polls boost Obama, Giuliani

A new poll released Tuesday had good news for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in their bids to win South Carolina’s Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.
American Research Group’s poll also had more bad news for U.S. Sen. John McCain’s bid for the GOP nomination in 2008.
The polls, conducted July 26-30, found Obama has the support of 33 percent of likely S.C. Democratic primary voters, up from 21 percent in June. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who led last month at 37 percent, dropped to 29 percent in July. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, also saw his support drop from 22 percent to 18 percent. Twelve percent of likely S.C. democratic voters are undecided.
Other polls have shown Clinton leading in South Carolina.
On the Republican side, Giuliani has the support of 28 percent of likely S.C. Republican voters, up from 22 percent in June. Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, who has yet to officially enter the race, was at 27 percent in the poll, up from 19 percent.
S.C. support for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney dropped to 7 percent from 8 percent in June. Romney is in fourth place behind McCain, at 10 percent. McCain’s support was down  sharply from June, when 23 percent of likely S.C. GOP voters favored the U.S. senator from Arizona,  ARG said.
Both ARG polls have margins of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Sanford to endorse treasurer

Gov.  Mark Sanford will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today to endorse a candidate in the upcoming race for state Treasurer. Friday, Lawmakers will elect a replacement for former Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, a Charleston Republican who resigned last week after being arraigned on federal cocaine charges.

McCain names Agriculture panel; has S.C. ties

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today named its national advisory committee on agriculture Three members of the seven-member panel are from South Carolina.

The panel will be working to enlist voters across the country to support the Arizona Senator, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president.

"Farming and agriculture production is part of the backbone of our great country," McCain said in a campaign news release. "As president, I will support addressing the larger needs of the farming community abiding by the same standards of common sense and fiscal restraint as demonstrated by our nation's hardworking families."

"My national advisory team will play a critical role in developing farm and agriculture policy as we continue to build support for my campaign across the country."

SENATOR MCCAIN'S AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Bill Amick Amick Farms of South Carolina
• Harry Bell Former South Carolina Farm Bureau President
• Rick Johnson Former Michigan House Speaker and member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Farm Bureau
• Ralph Klemme Former Chairman of the Iowa House Agriculture Committee
• Wayne Mann President, New Hampshire Farm Bureau
• John Putney Iowa State Senator and lifelong Farm owner and operator
• Hugh Weathers South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture

Sanford names Limehouse transportation director

Gov. Mark Sanford named Buck Limehouse the first Secretary of Transportation Monday, retaining the man who has led the agency since May.

Lawmakers granted Sanford the ability to choose who runs the agency’s day-to-day operations in June, part of a bill designed to reform the agency and make its leadership more accountable. Sanford, in a news release, said he opted to retain Limehouse for his “institutional knowledge” while the agency adjusts to the new law.

Limehouse, 68, is a former Transportation Department commission chairman. Under the new law, Sanford can remove Limehouse at any time.

“I think Buck brings a unique skill set and perspective to this job as we sort out what works and what doesn't under this new management model,” Sanford said in the release. “This appointment will give us through the next legislative session to not only see what works and doesn't work within the agency, but to clearly determine whether or not Buck is the right fit with this administration to bring those changes.”

Giuliani campaign names Lowcountry team

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani on Monday announced Lowcountry county leaders of his 2008 campaign.
The former New York City mayor has also recently named an executive director, three additional staff members and opened offices in West Columbia and Charleston.

Announced Monday were:

Beaufort County co-chairs

• Mike Passanite, local businessman and Republican activist
• Bill Roe, former Beaufort County Republican Party chair-man

Berkeley County co-chairs

• Tim Callanan, Berkeley County council member
• Deanna Trout, small business owner and former county co-chair for President George W. Bush

Charleston County chair

• Jane Barr, former President of the Charleston League of Women Voters

Colleton County chair

• Mary “Libba” Flowers, retired teacher and mother of seven

Dorchester County chair

• Grant Mishoe, captain with the North Charleston Fire Department

Jasper County chair

• Thaire “Scooter” Daley Jr., S.C. Republican Party State Executive Committeeman

Obama to open Upstate headquarters

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s

South Carolina

campaign will open its Upstate headquarters Saturday and celebrate the candidate's 46^th birthday with an afternoon of entertainment and food. Obama, an Illinois Democrat seeking the party's nomination for president, will not attend. But former state Schools Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.will attend, along with Temo Figueroa, Obama national field director.

 

The Upstate office is the third the campaign has opened in

South Carolina

. The Obama campaign has also opened offices in

Charleston

and

Columbia

.

The Upstate office opening is 2 p.m. Saturday at 33 Villa Road, Suite W101, in Greenville.

Sanford nominates DHHS director

Gov. Mark Sanford nominated South Carolina native Emma Forkner as the Director of the Department Health and Human Services today, according to a news release.

Forkner, 57, is a nurse with 35 years experience, and is currently a senior policy analyst in the area of Health Quality Research at the Altarum Institute in San Antonio, Tex., the release said. 

Forkner retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1997, where she achieved the rank of colonel.

A Dillon native, Forkner grew up in the state and received her nursing degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Forkner will take the reins of the DHHS, which lately has been focused on innovative changes to Medicaid aimed at improving the overall quality of care while helping control the rate of the program's growth.

Last week, it Sanford announced that South Carolina was chosen to be the first state in the nation to offer Medicaid recipients direct incentives for healthy behavior. The agency has also implemented a prescription drug reform package that has saved the state almost $13 million per year in drug costs, according to the release.

"Whether it's been her time in the military spent as a hands-on health-care professional or her work in the private sector looking at big picture issues, I think Emma brings a unique skill set to this job,"  Sanford said in the release. "Under Robbie Kerr's leadership of the agency, this administration has successfully focused on both improving quality of care while helping to control the rate of Medicaid growth, both of which will continue to be a priority for us. I want to thank Emma for agreeing to accept this role, and I welcome her to the team."

Forkner will begin work at the agency pending Senate confirmation.

"I'm honored that the governor has chosen me to lead the Department of Health and Human Services," Forkner said. "This agency has made some remarkable strides over the past four years, and it's a record of progress I'm going to make every effort to continue, while at the same time facing new challenges that may come our way."

Romney names Littlejohn to team

State Rep. Lanny Littlejohn, R-Spartanburg, has joined the leadership team of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced that  joined his South Carolina Leadership Team. 
 
"Lanny Littlejohn has served in the

South Carolina

Legislature for 18 years with honor and distinction," Romney said in a statement released by his campaign. "He has fought for the conservative values that are the backbone of my campaign." 

"His background as a legislator, an educator and a businessman give him the experience and expertise that make him an invaluable asset to my efforts in the Upstate, and I am very pleased to welcome him to our

South Carolina

team."
 

Wingate won't run for treasurer

Interim Treasurer Ken Wingate said today he will not seek the job on a permanent basis.

Lawmakers will meet next week to elect a new treasurer after former Treasurer Thomas Ravenel resigned this week after being indicted last month federal cocaine charges.

 Sanford appointed Wingate the interim treasurer June 20. Since then, Wingate has used his time in the office to assure Wall Street  bond-rating agencies the state's finances are in order.

Wingate, 47, is an accountant, tax attorney and estate planner who mounted unsuccessful bids for governor in 2002 and state Senate in 2004. He is the son-in-law of former Gov. Jim Edwards and is a major supporter.

Watchdog wants Ravenel to pay for election

Common Cause of South Carolina, a non-profit government watchdog group, is calling on former S.C. Treasurer Thomas Ravenel to reimburse the state for a special legislative session next month to elect his successor.

“We feel this is a way he can make amends for what he did,” John Crangle, the organization’s attorney-director, told The State on Wednesday.

Crangle estimated it would cost taxpayers about $32,000 for the General Assembly to meet for one day, based upon standard per-diem and mileage reimbursement rates.

The Legislature will return Aug. 3 for a one-day special session to choose a successor to Ravenel, who publicly announced his resignation Tuesday immediately after a federal court hearing in Columbia on charges he conspired to possess and distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail.

Gov. Mark Sanford suspended Ravenel from office on June 19, the day he was indicted. Sanford later named Ken Wingate, a Columbia accountant, tax attorney and estate planner who ran for governor in 2002, as interim treasurer.

The state constitution gives the General Assembly the power to vote on a permanent replacement.

Efforts Wednesday to reach Ravenel, a Charleston multi-millionaire developer, were unsuccessful. Bart Daniel of Charleston, one of Ravenel’s attorneys, declined comment when contacted today.

-- Rick Brundrett

Obama ads aimed at black voters

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has begun airing a radio ad on 36 South Carolina radio stations aimed at attracting black voters.

The Illinois senator’s ad talks about his background as a father, community organizer and civil rights lawyer and features clips of Obama discussing the problems facing black communities.

“We have more work to do when more young black men languish in prison than attend colleges and universities across America,” Obama says in the ad. “We have more work to do when the black incidents of HIV/AIDS and diabetes and every other illness is multiple times higher than the rest of the population.”

Obama will back in South Carolina on Thursday when he addresses the national convention of College Democrats of America in Columbia.

Democratic debate, Republican auditorium

The Citadel is in former state Rep. Herb Fielding's Charleston neighborhood. "You could throw a rock from my House here, " said Monday.

The irony of having the Democrats at the Citadel, known for its conservative alumni base, was not lost on Fielding.

Fielding said Monday's debate in Charleston, where he was elected as one of three blacks in 1970 to serve in the all-white S.C. House of Representatives, was important for the city.

"You've got a Democratic debate in a Republican auditorium," he said.

Like others, Fielding said he came to the debate today looking to hear a very specific message.

"I expect to hear a lot of talk about education and the war," he said.

Fielding  based his expectations on questions he heard sampled on YouTube via CNN.

"I know that's what I'm looking to hear," he said.

Whirl of activity as debate draws near

The homegrown pageantry that has become the hallmark of any debate in South Carolina was in full effect this evening outside the gates of The Citadel campus in Charleston.

Driving on I-26 heading into Charleston today, a few cars with Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaign stickers headed down Moultrie Street towards South Carolina's military college, host of the first debate sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee.

The debate is sponsored by CNN and online video site YouTube, and it shows: almost everyone is taking pictures with digital camera or recording video of the activity around the debate with handhelds.

The weather is a perfect 84 degrees with a slight breeze, but activists and campaign staffers are absolutely sweating, shouting at any cameraman pointing their way.

A full marching band made its way around Hampton Park, chanting "Obama, Obama."

A man in a panda bear suit strutted proudly up and down Moultrie Street, apparently to raise awareness for environmental issues.

Supporters of Americans for Fair Taxation were at the debate as
they were at the first Republican debate in Columbia, waving signs.

Low on the ground, two red-and blue-colored signs that read "Support President Bush: Vote Republican" stood defiantly amid a throng of singing and dancing Democratic supporters.

Adam Piper, a Republican activist from Columbia, was heading towards the debate hall to liveblog for a South Carolina politics Web site. "I'm doing it to provide a different perspective."

From a rough count of the signs hoisted up by supporters, you would think only Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were being featured at tonight's debate; small teams for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich were seen heading towards McAlister Field House, where the debate takes place less than an hour from now.

On Summerall Field, just before the police line allowing only credentialed press and campaign staff through, a couple was lounging in lawn chairs as if nothing was going on.

Members of the press are cloistered in Mark Clark Hall; reporters from New York, Washington and all over the country are clicking away at laptops.

Most of us here will watch from giant flat screens as ordinary Americans with webcams and video editing equipment ask the questions this time around.

-- Justin Chapura

Meet the two Citadel students who got into the debate

Eldred Tinsley V of Greenwood and Martin Till of Orangeburg, both 18, are the only two enrollees in The Citadel summer program to get tickets for tonight's big debate.

The two, who will be freshmen at the school in the fall, strode in from two weeks of academics and physical training to hear the candidates.

The Citadel's four-week College Success Institute is designed to get high schoolers ready to be cadets.

"This was an opportunity to learn," Till said going in to the arena. "Maybe it help persuade my opinion on who to support."

McCain visiting S.C. Friday, Saturday

Arizona. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today said he'll return to

South Carolina

on Friday and Saturday.

McCain will stop in Greenville, Spartanburg and Aiken.

Friday, July 27, 2007

GREENVILLE

,

SOUTH CAROLINA

WHO: Senator John McCain

WHAT:

Greenville Drive

Minor League Baseball Game 

WHEN: Friday, July 27, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. EDT
             Press Set Up Time: 6:15 p.m. EDT

WHERE: West End Field
               945 South Main Street
               

Greenville

,

South Carolina

Saturday, July 28, 2007

GREENVILLE

,

SOUTH CAROLINA

WHO: Senator John McCain

WHAT: Meet and Greet

WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. EDT
             Press Set Up Time: 8:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE: Stax’s Original Restaurant
               1704

Poinsett Highway

               

Greenville

,

South Carolina

SPARTANBURG

,

SOUTH CAROLINA

WHO: Senator John McCain

WHAT: Meet and Greet

WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. EDT
             Press Set Up Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE: Beacon Restaurant
               255 John B. White, Sr. Blvd.
               

Spartanburg

,

South Carolina

AIKEN

,

SOUTH CAROLINA

WHO: Senator John McCain

WHAT: Meet and Greet

WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 4:15 p.m. EDT
             Press Set Up Time: 3:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE: The Home of Scott and Mary Singer
               317 Live Oak Drive
               Aiken,

South Carolina

Dodd, Biden most visible campaigners

Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden have the entrances to The Citadel campus covered with supporters. The only aerial campaigning seen so far was anonymous and a bit negative campaigning.

A plane could be seen near the site of tonight's debate pulling a sign that read "StopHerNow.com," promoting an anti-Sen. Hillary Clinton site. 

Beaufort couple wins seat lottery

Joel and Mary Mallet of Beaufort feel as if they hit the lottery - and in a sense they did.

The couple entered a state Democratic Party lottery for tickets to tonight's presidential debate at the Citadel and got a call last night informing they had won two seats in McAllister Field House.

They came to Charleston early today hoping to meet and greet some of the candidates, but had no luck. They went to their seats with one of the first crowds allowed in to the arena, at 4:00 p.m.

For the 7 p.m.  debate start. The Mallet's are torn over who they will cheer on tonight -- she supports Sen. Hillary Clinton and he supports Sen. Barack Obama, the two leaders in this early primary state. 

"We can't lose," Joel Mallet said.

The Citadel gets high tech feel

Judging by the set for tonight's Democratic presidential debate, the event sponsored by YouTube and CNN should definitely have a 21st century, tech-savvy feel to it.

McAlister Field House has been transformed into a cutting-edge theater. The stage is a white, horseshoe-shaped affair, with eight candidate podiums spread across the top. Each podium has a built-in video screen for candidates to watch the questions, which will all come from videos submitted by people via the YouTube Web site.

Behind the candidates is a giant scaffolding with lighted cubes, and the colorful cubes are also scattered across the front of the field house. To the candidates' right is a 40-foot video screen which will also play the debate's questions.
Near the audience is a bright red platform that is there "basically to look nice," an usher said.

The Internet-generation feel also permeates the debate "spin room," the cavernous area where candidates and their staff will meet reporters immediately after the debate. The spin room, and the media filing center, are in the Mark Clark Hall, across Summerall Field from the field house.

There is a small stage at the front of the spin room, where a number of small tables with colorful table cloths are set amid a half dozen or so colored bean bag chairs. It is not immediately clear who is supposed to sit in the bean bag chairs, but it's doubtful that any candidate will.

YouTube founders surprised at their debate role

The founders of YouTube said Monday that they had no idea their video sharing Web site would become such a force in politics.

Chad Hurley, who along with Steve Chen founded the site, said the pair never imagined that the site they created to allow people to watch user-generated content, would have the impact it does.
"We had no idea we'd be in this position," Hurley said during a small luncheon with reporters and bloggers at the Charleston restaurant High Cotton.

Chen and Hurley were in town as part of their firm's role in hosting tonight's Democratic presidential debate at The Citadel. YouTube, and its parent company Google, are co-sponsoring the debate along with CNN.

All of the questions for the debate will come from videos people submitted through YouTube. Nearly 3,000 videos were submitted and YouTube representatives said Monday they expect up to two dozen will be used in the debate. Hurley and Chen said they have seen some of the videos but don't know which ones were chosen to be used in the live broadcast.

Clyburn: S.C. could move primary date to stay No. 1

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said Monday that South Carolina Democrats could still move the date of its 2008 Democratic presidential primary to ensure it does not share the date with another state.

Clyburn, the House majority whip, was in Charleston for tonight's presidential debate at The Citadel. He said that in moving its primary to the same Jan. 29 date as South Carolina's, Florida had engaged in "mischief."

The Democratic National Committee last year awarded South Carolina one of four key early primary dates, following caucuses in Iowa and Nevada and the New Hampshire primary. Dozens of states have moved their primaries to right after South Carolina's, in keeping with DNC rules. But Florida lawmakers voted earlier this year to move its Democratic and Republican primaries to Jan. 29 also.

"Florida, I think, intentionally created mischief by moving their primary," Clyburn said.

South Carolina Democrats should wait as long as possible before making a decision as to whether the primary date should be moved, Clyburn said, to give the entire calendar time to be set.
South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler can move the date herself, but has said she plans to honor the DNC-set calendar.

Biden: Give troops mine-resistant vehicles

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., touted his support for funding for the armored military vehicles Monday at a riverfront news conference in Charleston.

Biden is one of the eight Democratic presidential candidates who are in Charleston for tonight's debate at The Citadel.
Biden spoke to reporters on the banks of the Ashley River in front of several military vehicles manufactured in the state by Force Protection and Protected Vehicles.

Biden secured $1.2 billion in an emergency war budget this year to purchase 2,500 mine-resistant vehicles such as the made by the two companies.

"Our government has some fundamental promises to keep to our troops in the field," said Sen. Biden.  "When our young men and women make a commitment to serve our country, we owe them the best protective equipment available.These mine resistant vehicles must be deployed immediately."

Bush to visit S.C.

President George W. Bush will be in Charleston on Tuesday, a day after eight Democrats who want his job debate at The Citadel.

Bush will visit the Charleston Air Force Base and speak to military personnel, the White House said Thursday.

No other details were immediately available.

White House press secretary Tony Snow told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday the president will visit the state and said it is “likely” the issue of the war in Iraq will come up in his speech next week.

Snow said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham,R-S.C., invited the president to visit.

Romney coming to S.C. Thursday

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney will hold a pair of events in South Carolina on Thursday.

The former Massachusetts governor will host “Ask Mitt Anything” at the Beacon restaurant in Spartanburg at 12:30 p.m. and will then hold a “pig pickin” at Saluda Shoals Park in West Columbia at 5:45 p.m.

Several members of Romney’s family will join him at both events.

Clinton, Obama to speak at College Democrats

Five Democratic presidential hopefuls will address the national convention of College Democrats next week in Columbia.

The convention, July 26-29, will be at the University of South Carolina. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, one of the 2008 hopefuls, will be the keynote speaker.

Other candidates speaking next week are U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska.

U.S. Sen. Jim Clyburn of Co-lumbia and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean of Vermont will also take the podium.

Exact dates and times of the candidates’ appearances have not been released, although Obama is scheduled to speak July 26 and Clinton on July 28.

Bauer asks Gov. Sanford to name new HHS chief

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer Tuesday called on Gov. Mark Sanford to name a new director for the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Bauer said the department needs a director in order to stem public concern that a new $250 million contract to transport seniors and people with disabilities  might pose a danger to them.

The Department of Health and Human Services entered into a new contract with two out-of-state agencies in May to take-over non-emergency transporta-tion services from local contractors.

That decision has been under protest since  Sanford made it, and on Tuesday in Greenville, dozens attended a meeting called by Bauer to  complain about the new system’s failures.

Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, who chairs the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, is holding a similar meeting today in Columbia. Complaints range from failure to pick up nursing home patients for transport to vital medical care, to returning patients to incorrrect addresses and refusal by new contract employees to assist the elderly and disabled customers.

The state health agency, which oversees the Medicaid program, has been without a director since Robbie Kerr resigned the position four months ago to become a health consultant.

Willis co-chair of Clinton's national mayors panel

Florence Mayor Frank Willis has been named a national co-chair of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's national mayors ' council.

Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., announced Willis' appointment in a Tuesday news release. The mayors panel is  made up of about 100 current and former mayors from across the country who will advise the Clinton campaign on policy and outreach.

Willis was first elected mayor of Florence in 1995.

Giuliani to open S.C. offices

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, is opening campaign offices in South Carolina on Wednesday.

Giuliani is opening offices in West Columbia and Charleston, with the West Columbia location serving as the campaign's statewide headquarters.

The campaign named three field directors on Tuesday and named Ryan Meerstein, the former director for political education for the Republican National Committee, the South Carolina campaign's executive director in charge of day-to-day operations.

The field directors are Furman graduate and University of Virginia graduate student Pete Stevenson; former Young Republican Fund executive director Matthew Nichols; and former 2006 Missouri GOP Victory staffer Chuck Poplstein.

Paul to be in Upstate

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul will campaign in the Upstate this weekend.

Paul, a Texas congressman, will be in Spartanburg on Saturday for a noon luncheon sponsored by the Spartanburg Republican Party.

The event will feature a question-and-answer session with the candidate.

The lunch is at the Summit Pointe Meetings and Events Center in Spartanburg. Tickets cost $25.
Afterward, Paul will travel to Greenville for a rally at the Carolina First Center, formerly the Palmetto Expo Center. The rally begins at 3 p.m.

Richardson to be in Charleston

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will campaign in the Lowcountry on Sunday in advance of Monday’s Democratic presidential debate at The Citadel.

At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Richardson will meet with East Cooper Democrats at a private home in Mount Pleasant, followed by a similar event at 4:30 p.m. at Bowens Island, near Folly Beach.

Next Monday’s debate, sponsored by CNN and YouTube, begins at 7 p.m.

Giuliani to be in Myrtle Beach

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will bring his 2008 presidential campaign back to South Carolina this week.

The Republican will be in Myrtle Beach on Friday. No details have yet been released about the event.

Romney goes on air in S.C.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has launched a S.C. television campaign.

The ad, entitled “Ocean,” will run in early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. In the ad, Romney discussed the need to improve the nation’s cultural landscape.

No other details of the ad, such as which channels it will run or for how long, were immediately available.

Staffers leave McCain’s S.C. staff

John McCain’s South Carolina press secretary and state field director resigned from the U.S. senator’s struggling presidential campaign Monday.

Spokesman Adam Temple and field director Josh Robinson left the Arizona Republican’s campaign, Temple said Monday. The departures come the same day as McCain’s national communications team also quit.

National communications director Brian Jones, deputy director Danny Diaz and spokesman Matt David also resigned.

The resignations are the latest shake-up for a campaign that just a month ago was considered the envy of the 2008 GOP field.

McCain’s national campaign manager Terry Nelson and top advisor John Weaver resigned last week after a poor second quarter of fund raising saw the campaign raise only $11 million. That quarter followed a soft first quarter and left the campaign struggling to pay its bills.

Clinton launches S.C. Web site

 

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, launched Web page dedicated to her

South Carolina

campaign.

 The homepage, according to a news release, includes an interactive campaign blog,

South Carolina

news and events and a multimedia section dedicated to the S.C.    campaign. 

 

Here's a link to the site.

www.hillaryclinton.com/hq/southcarolina/

 

Report: State health, retirement plans need cost-saving overhaul

The GEAR report (pdf)

South Carolina could save more than $500 million by changing the way the state Budget and Control Board does business and making changes in the health care and retirement plans that cover thousands of state employees, according to a report released today.

A commission created by Gov. Mark Sanford released a list of 61 recommendations to the State Budget and Control Board -- state government's nerve center which handles much of the day-to-day operations and oversees billions in contracts. The Government Efficiency and Accountability Review, or GEAR, commission, is Sanford’s latest attempt at restructuring state government.

The recommendations sure to get the most public reaction are changes to the state’s health and retirement systems. Proposed changes include raising the retirement eligibility for state employees by two years and requiring state employees covered by a health plan to use generic drugs and mail-order prescriptions.

The GEAR commission says the $500 million could be saved over a three-year period. Many of the changes can be done administratively, but others, including the changes to the state retirement and health plans, would require the Legislature to change state law. They've been unwilling to do that in the past, and the two legislative appointees to this commission have refused to endorse the final report.

Hodges, others want to focus campaigns on global poverty and disease

A bipartisan coalition of South Carolina political, public policy and faith leaders on Wednesday launched the state leg of a national campaign aimed at ending global poverty and disease.

The ONE Campaign aims to encourage the 2008 presidential  candidates to make the fight against disease and extreme poverty a key foreign policy issue.

At a news conference on the State House steps, former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges said he is leading the state campaign because the issues are too important to ignore.

"South Carolina's position as the first in the South primaries gives a unique opportunity to set the tone on thus vital part of our foreign policy," Hodges said.

Republican and conservative activist Ashley Landess said ONE represents "the first time Governor Hodges and I have stood on the same side of an issue and it's because we both believe that united we can make a difference."

The ONE Campaign is led nationally by rockstar Bono of the band U2 and by former senators Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Ask the candidates a question through YouTube

Got a question you want to ask the Democratic presidential candidates? Now’s your chance.

The July 23 Democratic presidential debate in Charleston is co-sponsored by Internet video site YouTube and will feature a series of questions from the public via videos submitted over the popular Web site.

CNN and YouTube are co-sponsoring the debate, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Citadel. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will moderate.

To submit a question for consideration, go to www.youtube.com/debates. Submissions will be accepted until July 22.

A similar Republican debate will be Sept. 17 in Florida.

Moore defends payday lending job

Former state Sen. Tommy Moore said Tuesday taking a job with the payday lending industry violated no ethical rules in the Senate.

 

Moore also said his new duties, as executive vice president of the Community Financial Services Association of America, will not require him to become a lobbyist.

 

Moore's statements came during the taping of an interview at ETV studios, in response to a question from “The Big Picture” host Andrew Gobeil.

 

Moore, an Aiken Democrat, said he understands how some might question his new position with a national payday lending trade association. Moore said he is guilty of no ethical violations by accepting his job, according to ETV.

“In fact, in ’99 I believe it was, I voted to regulate the payday lending," Moore said. "So obviously, it has to look right and be right.

"But I did not entertain any written offer from the association till after we adjourned, and even after I resigned, to make sure that there was no ethical violations. So, I know that sometimes folks want to think what they want to, but I came in with credibility and I am going out with credibility."

The interview will air during the July 12 episode of ETV's "The Big Picture" at 7:30 p.m.

In response to another question by Gobeil, Moore said that some accounts that say he is going to be a lobbyist have gotten things wrong.

“I am not going to be a lobbyist, as some folks have reported. And even in that, I will not be involved in anything as far as S.C. is concerned for a year, even though I am not going to be a registered lobbyist.”

Two McCain staffers resign

Arizona Sen. John McCain got more bad news today when two key staffers in his presidential campaign announced their  resignations. Terry Nelson, McCain's campaign manager, and John Weaver, the campaign's chief strategist both resigned.

McCain's last financial statement showed the Arizona Republican had $2 million in cash on hand, not enough to continue to running his campaign without a major cash infusion.

Below are the statements issued by McCain and by his former staffers.

Statement from McCain campaign staffers

11:18 a.m.

ARLINGTON, VA - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager and John Weaver, Chief Strategist for John McCain 2008 issued the following statements:

"This morning I informed Senator McCain that I would be resigning from his presidential campaign, effective immediately. It has been a tremendous honor to serve Senator McCain and work on his campaign. I believe John McCain is the most experienced and prepared candidate to represent the Republican Party and defeat the Democratic nominee next year." - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager

"As of today, I have resigned my position as chief strategist to John McCain's presidential campaign. It has been my honor and a distinct privilege to serve someone who has always put our country first. I believe that most Americans will come to the conclusion that I have long known there is only one person equipped to serve as our nation's chief executive and deal with the challenges we face, and that person is John McCain." - John Weaver, Chief Strategist

Statement from Sen. John McCain

11:48 a.m.

ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement today:

"Today, John Weaver and Terry Nelson offered their resignations from my presidential campaign, which I accepted with regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship. Terry is a consummate professional, who has ably lead this campaign through a challenging political environment. John Weaver has been my friend and trusted counselor for many years and to whom I am greatly indebted. In the days and weeks ahead this campaign will move forward, and I will continue to address the issues of greatest concern to the American people, laying out my vision for a secure and prosperous America."

Sanford to talk about tax breaks for retailers

Gov. Mark Sanford will be in Charleston and Duncan Wednesday to talk about tax breaks for which national retailers would qualify  under a provision that passed the Legislature and survived the governor's veto.

Sanford said in a statement Tuesday the tax breaks force the state's small businesses to subsidize larger corporate competitors.
Sizable and unprecedented tax rebates would go to outdoor retailers like Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops without reliable guarantees that these stores would meet sales and visitor goals, the statement said. Smaller retail businesses do not qualify for the tax breaks.

Sanford will be at the West Ashley location of Haddrell's Point (47 Windermere Boulevard, Charleston) at 9:00 a.m. He will appear at Brown's Bait & Tackle (404 Berry Shoals Road, Duncan) at 1:45 p.m.

Moore leaving Senate for payday lending job

Former S.C. Sen. Tommy Moore, the Democratic candidate for governor in 2006, is going to work for national payday lending trade association.

Moore, of Aiken, resigned his Senate seat on Saturday. He will become executive vice president of the Community Financial Services Association of America and will move to the Washington, D.C., area, the association said Monday.

“At this point in my career, I saw an exciting opportunity to take on a new challenge that builds on my long history of supporting and protecting consumers,” Moore said in a release from the association. “CFSA shares those goals and I’ve been impressed with the great strides they have taken to educate consumers about responsible use of the service.”

Ravenel pleads not guilty to cocaine charges

S.C. Treasurer Thomas Ravenel pleaded not guilty Friday on a federal drug charge.

Ravenel, who was not present at the arraignment in Columbia's federal court, was indicted June 19 by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was suspended from office by Gov. Mark Sanford, who named Columbia tax attorney Ken Wingate as interim treasurer.

Indicted along with Ravenel was Michael L. Miller of Mount Pleasant, who federal authorities described as a drug dealer. Miller, who was already in state custody on drug charges, was also arraigned Friday.

Miller also pleaded not guilty.

Ravenel is in a drug treatment center in Arizona and will have to appeal in court when he returns.

Both men were granted $100,000 unsecured bonds. Miller will have to post state bond first.

Clinton picks up Gephardt endorsement

Former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri Thursday endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.

Gephardt served as House majority leader from 1989 to 1995, and as minority leader from 1995 to 2003.

Gephardt ran unsuccessfully for president twice, in 1988 and 2004, when he dropped out of the race after a fourth-place showing in the Iowa caucuses.

Gephardt, 66, had secured the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina in the 2004 presidential primaries, but Clyburn’s political clout in delivering votes was never tested in the state.

Former N.C. Sen. John Edwards eventually won the 2004 S.C. Democratic presidential primary.  But Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won the Democratic nomination.

Clyburn, who was elected House Majority Whip in 2006, has not endorsed a candidate in the 2008 race.

Clinton, McCain S.C. leaders in new polls

Sen. Hillary Clinton leads her Democratic rivals in three early primary states, including South Carolina, according to a June 30 poll by American Research Group.
Clinton led polls in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, in the survey, all early primary states that will play a pivotal role in next year’s election.
The New York Democrat polled 37 percent among likely Democratic voters in South Carolina, followed by former N.C. Sen. John Edwards at 22 percent and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at 21 percent.
Among Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are at 23 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in South Carolina, followed by undeclared “Law and Order” star Fred Thompson at 19 percent. The former U.S. senator from Tennessee has not formally declared his candidacy.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney polled 8 percent in the survey.
In a mid-month Mason Dixon poll in June, Obama and Thompson led their parties in South Carolina.
The American Research Group telephone poll asked 600 likely Democratic voters and 600 likely Republican voters who they would vote for if the 2008 presidential primaries were held today. The poll’s margin of error is 4 percent.

Clinton picks up Harvin endorsement

Rep. Cathy Harvin, D-Clarendon, has endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president, according to the Clinton campaign.

The campaign said in a news release the Harvin endorsement is proof Clinton is running strong among women. Last week Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester, signed on as one of Clinton’s state campaign co-chairs.

Harvin said Clinton is the best choice to meet the nation's international and domestic challenges.

“The 2008 presidential election could be this nation’s last opportunity to elect a president who can regain our position as ‘most dominant’ in the global landscape we call home," Harvin said in the news release.  "We need a president, who understands the needs of working-class America, one who will reverse the staggering number of lost manufacturing jobs. We need an individual who can craft a health-care plan that is comprehensive, for all people, (who) is focused on quality of delivery and cost of care."

Harvin represents House District 64, which covers parts of Clarendon and Williamsburg Counties.