The prettiest and powerful Oz, Mrs. Jenny, came out from behind the curtain to give the nod to Horse-face yesterday in attempt to repay the favor the late, great, hmm, hmm good Governor Campbell extended to our favorite navy-blue blazer wearer. L(ead foo)t. Gov. Bauer crossed the Flo-town, Myrtle Riviera route yesterday and completed his ‘press the meat’ journey here in Charleston, walking the Cooper River (Rav-refusal) Bridge while on crutches. First place contestant Horse-face Campbell started his day Bernie’s in Cola, followed with the food court at the El Cid Mall, and will finish at a undisclosed location in Myrtle Beach-I am thinking the infamous Doll House will be his best chance to ‘press the meat’. The run-off election between “Lead Foot” and “Horse Face” is today, so by all means put on your goulashes and get out to vote, this race will be determined by who gets out to vote.
Just something to think about: Think about South Carolina’s National image if we elect “Sanford and Son” (Gov Sanford and Rep. Candidate Campbell). We will have a Governor who doesn’t wear suits, makes Time Magazine’s “3 worst governors list” (and has the gravitas to run as “a different kind of governor”)* Governor Sanford doesn’t debate, doesn’t fulfill his promise to the electorate and seems to spend all of his time making charts. If get Mike Campbell, we’ll have a guy who never worked a day in his life, (I am totally cool with this because working is so overrated), trades on Papa-Bear Campbell’s name and money. And sadly, Mike Campbell doesn’t have a college degree.
What I am getting at is in the age of business development and economic incentives to induce companies to relocate or build factories in South Carolina, it would seriously help if our state’s leaders happened to be pro-business (give tax-incentives and put on a suit Gov Sanford) and had the qualifications to be in the position they’ve reached (go finish your degree Campbell, I don’t care where it is from, just get one. And go do something other than polishing the tarnish you’ve put on your father’s good name.**
The Bushido supports our current Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer in the race. He’s actually accomplished more than having a heavy foot. Btw, I think it shows Bauer’s character to be able to laugh at himself and accept the campaign donations from NASCAR drivers. I hope you will too.
*Gov. Sanford is correctly wording his campaign slogan. He is different from Hodges, a decent Gov. who came through on his campaign promises; Sanford has nothing to show after four years of being in office other than a litany of missteps and embarrassments.
**Not only does Campbell trade on his father’s name, but he rides the tide of support from former President Bush and Lee Atwater’s wife, Sally. Lee Atwater-do you remember him? Of all the people, please tell me that history doesn’t paint Atwater a pretty memory. If so, Karl Rove will go down as a “founding father”.
(Photo of Andre Bauer compliments of GOBCweb.com)
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Bauer, Ravenel claim victories
By TONY BARTELME
The Post and Courier
And it's Andre Bauer ... by a crutch.
Armed with crutches and endorsements, Bauer hobbled past Mike Campbell on Tuesday in the hard-fought GOP runoff for lieutenant governor.
Bauer had 51 percent of the vote to Campbell's 49 percent.
It was a repeat of sorts of Bauer's race four years ago, when he came from behind in a runoff to beat state Sen. David Thomas. But Bauer did it this time with just one good foot.
Less than three weeks ago, he was on the operating table with a surgeon piecing together his heel, fractured in a small plane crash.
Tuesday night, he was thanking supporters.
"I can't tell you how much fun it's been the last two weeks criss-crossing the state," he said at a celebration in Columbia. He said he was somewhat surprised at the results. "It's very humbling and it's going to be a very tough race in November."
Bauer faces Robert Barber, the lone Democrat to campaign for the office.
Barber, owner of Bowen's Island restaurant and a former state lawmaker, congratulated Bauer and said his campaign would focus on the "main street themes" of spiritual grounding, common sense and fiscal responsibility.
In a less dramatic race, Mount Pleasant millionaire Thomas Ravenel had 76 percent of the vote with Easley homebuilder Jeff Willis far behind at 24 percent.
With a mandate from Republicans, Ravenel said he'd start his campaign against Democratic incumbent Grady Patterson, 82, by highlighting Patterson's opposition to Gov. Mark Sanford's positions on the state Budget and Control Board.
"We'll plot and plan and do the best we can," he said.
Willis, 37, who finished a distant fourth in the first round of voting two weeks ago, opted to stay in the race after Greg Ryberg and Rick Quinn dropped out.
Today he says he'll write a four-figure check to Ravenel's campaign. "I'm going to support him with all my spirit toward November."
While the treasurer's race was a rout, the one for lieutenant governor had both candidates in agony as the returns poured in.
Bauer's slim victory was a surprise to many. After the primary, Campbell, son of the popular governor Carroll Campbell, seemed the odds-on favorite. He had more than 21,000 more votes than Bauer, the famous last name and an endorsement from Sanford's wife, Jenny. But Bauer, 37, picked up endorsements from key Republicans, including Henry Jordan, who finished third in the primary but with a sizable 18 percent, and U.S. 2nd District Rep. Joe Wilson. And with memories of his runoff victory in 2002, Bauer kept at it, stationing himself at intersections throughout the state and waving at motorists, fending off comments about his driving habits.
Bauer's political fortunes took a hit earlier this year amid questions about his tendency to speed. He was stopped but not ticketed for driving 101 mph on Interstate 77.
With voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Bauer climbed the Ravenel Bridge, greeting bridge walkers, and apparently gaining a few sympathy votes.
"I voted for the man on the crutch," said C.A. Gatlin, 71, of Hanahan. "He's been a fellow that's been in the limelight. And even though he's been speeding and stuff like that, who else doesn't?"
Schuyler Kropf of The Post and Courier and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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