Haley's Choice: The Contenders for Jim DeMint's Seat

Potential appointees come from across the state and with different backgrounds.

Since Jim DeMint announced his resignation from the Senate there has been rampant speculation about who Gov. Nikki Haley might select to become the state's junior senator. There was initially speculation that Haley might choose herself, but on Friday she put that rumor to rest. There was also some thought that Haley might select a so-called placeholder. On Monday, Haley put that suggestion to rest also: “As I continue to consider the impending U.S. Senate vacancy, many have discussed the possibility of a ‘placeholder’ appointee who would pledge to serve for only two years and not seek election to the seat in 2014. While there are some good arguments in favor of that approach, I believe the better case is against it. “I do not want to tie …

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Elections

Perry's SC Organization Could Be Key to Resurgence

Texas Gov. hoping ground game will be the difference

As many commentators have already noted, the pursuit of the Republican Party’s nomination for president has been one of the most — if not the most—unpredictable races in the modern era. And votes are yet to be cast. No candidate typifies the capriciousness of the race thus far better than Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And now Perry, once thought to be written off, is polling in double-digits again in Iowa and South Carolina. What makes Perry different from the others who rose just as quickly as they fell is his strong grassroots organization. At the center of that organization is Katon Dawson, a former state GOP chair who nearly became the national chair in 2009. Dawson originally was aligned with Newt Gingrich, but jumped ship when the former …

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Perry Presidential Bid Endorsed by 21 S.C. Lawmakers

Four local lawmakers back Texas governor's 2012 campaign.

Four Upstate lawmakers have endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry in his 2012 GOP Presidential Primary Campaign. State Reps. Eric Bedingfield (R-District 28), Dan Hamilton (R-Distirct 20), Tommy Stringer (R-District 18) and Mark Willis (R-District 16) said Perry is the right candidate for the job. The four local representatives were among 21 legislators listed at the opening of Perry's South Carolina campaign headquarters in Columbia. They will all serve on his State Legislative Steering Committee. Others included Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler Cherokee County, State Sen. Mike Rose and Rep. Chris Murphy of Summerville, and Rep. Chip Limehouse of Charleston. Bedingfield told Patch that Perry’s record on the two biggest issues in the election…

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