Thread: SC: Graham beats longshot GOP challenger in SC primary

Graham beats longshot GOP challenger in SC primary
By JIM DAVENPORT
(Published June 10, 200

COLUMBIA, S.C. — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham fended off a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican who accused the one-term incumbent of being too liberal for South Carolina while criticizing his ties to John McCain and their work on failed immigration reform.

Graham won with 67 percent of the vote compared with 33 percent for challenger Buddy Witherspoon, a retired orthodontist and former Republican National Committee member.

Graham had a dominating war chest and name recognition and few observers believed his re-election bid was in danger. McCain, after all, did win the January primary here and Graham has used his endorsement in television ads.

"Principled compromise is the lifeblood of democracy and those who seek principled compromise to advance their state and their nation are doing what the voters want," Graham said in his victory speech.

It was a vindication compared to a year ago at the state GOP convention, when the crowd booed and shouted "No" at Graham's explanations of the immigration bill. He became the butt of criticism from conservatives and Rush Limbaugh labeled the proposal "Grahamnesty."

Graham had a huge financial advantage. His most recent filing showed he spent $3.2 million through May 21 and had $4.5 million on hand. Witherspoon had spent $211,356 and had $94,484 on hand after borrowing $220,000 to run his campaign.

Graham, 52, is an Air Force Reserve colonel and has served in Iraq as the only uniformed member of the U.S. Senate.

The lawyer was born in Seneca and grew up watching his parents run a restaurant, pool hall and liquor store. When they died 15 months apart as he finished his degree at the University of South Carolina, he adopted his younger sister Darline when she was 13.

Witherspoon, a 69-year-old Navy veteran, characterized himself as a devout Christian who opposes abortion and gay marriage and knocked Graham for being "joined at the hip" with McCain. He said he was playing the role of David vs. Goliath in the race, and wanted to severely crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.

He yielded little ground in defeat. "I was the conservative in this race. The issues stand and we will stand," he said.

Witherspoon said he will continue "trying to keep this nation going the right way" and that means that, for now, he'll withhold support for Graham or McCain while he takes a few weeks away from politics.

Glenn Muskovin, a retired construction worker who lives in Columbia, said he voted for Graham even though he doesn't always agree with the senator.

"I think he votes in our best interest, to take care of our troops and needing an actual immigration law instead of the way it is right now. He hasn't wavered like a lot of politicians," said Muskovin, 52.

Graham's two lightly funded Democratic challengers, Mount Pleasant attorney Michael Cone and North Myrtle Beach engineer Bob Conley, also knocked him as backing an illegal immigration plan they call amnesty. Conley had $961 on hand and hard raised $9,588 in contributions and a $2,400 personal loan. Michael Cone had $371 on hand after raising $1,929 and a loan of $9,500.

With all precincts reporting, the race between Cone and Conley was nearly evenly split and headed to an automatic recount. Cone said he'd sleep on the results, which were too close to call, and "figure it out tomorrow." But his initial reaction was, "I didn't do enough work."

Conley didn't immediately respond to interview requests.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com:80/124/story/190364.html

Disappointing. Did illegal aliens and Democrats vote? Or are the people of SC stuck on stupid and embrace the "Tell the bigots to shut up" Lindsey Shamnesty Graham.

That sucks. Graham is a jerk.

This is not good at all for SC nor the Nation . Pro-Amnesty Fool

Well, this is disturbing.

If the majority in SC want something done about illegal immigration and this idiot called everyone against illegal immigration "bigots", why on earth would they give him the vote?

Oh well.....all I can say is that if people unhappy with him went ahead and voted for him anyway then they're going to get exactly what they were asking for. So much for anything changing.........

If his Democratic challenger in November is on our side concerning illegal immigration, we need to get behind him and support him.

Exactly, go Blue Dog

Duplicate Post:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-118656-25.html