Pounding fists and unfriendly fire: SC Democrats for governor meet for 1st debate

Phil Noble pounded his fist on the table, saying he would not apologize for wanting to fix education in South Carolina even if it meant firing teachers. Marguerite Willis frequently made her opponents the butt of criticism and jokes while trying to appeal to the audience as the woman in the race.

And state Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, pitched himself as the candidate who could win the election, defending his 22-year legislative record against attacks from the person to his left and his right.

The race will be a fight to the finish, the three Democrats running for S.C. governor proved Friday when they debated for the first time at Progress South Carolina’s Palmetto State Progressive Summit. The debate comes months before the three, and maybe more, will compete in the state’s June 12 primary.

The candidates took shots at S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and his chief rival Catherine Templeton. But their Democratic rivals were their true targets.

Willis, a Nexsen Pruet antitrust lawyer from Florence, took aim early and often in her debut campaign performance.

In response to a question about how the candidates would reach women in the state, Smith said he was humbled by the support he’s received from “upwards of 11,000” women endorsing him for his work on women’s issues.

Then Willis targeted Smith, blaming him as a longtime member of the Legislature for the state not having an equal pay law.

“What’s he been doing? He’s been offering it every year and can’t get it done. I’ll get it done because women of South Carolina are going to demand it get done.”

“Two weeks from now, I’ll have as many women signed up for me as James Smith,” she added.

Growing defensive, a fired-up Smith said he’s won the support of women because he’s been fighting “every day, all day long.

I’ve been serving my state, I bled for my country, and I fought for women in my state, and that’s why I’m so grateful for their support,” said Smith, an Afghanistan war combat veteran.

Willis again called on Noble to drop out of the race, citing his plan, written about Friday in The State newspaper, to have pregnant women register so the state can track and offer services to their children.

“Do I need to say anything else than that?” she asked, inciting moans from the audience. Willis added: Noble’s plan is “moronic, it’s unconstitutional and it’s unconscionable. ... ” – and something “that no woman would ever tolerate.”

Firing back, Noble said Willis “might be surprised” that the state already has a system for gathering information about women, newborn children and their health: “It’s called a birth certificate.”

Noble continued: “If Ms. Willis is uncomfortable with that, if she would rather take that information that could be used to provide better health care for women and children and lock it away in a file cabinet and let that gather dust, then I would, respectfully, request that maybe she should withdraw from the race.”

Noble also beat the anti-corruption drum, highlighting that he’s the only candidate who has pledged not to take money from political action committees, a dig at Smith.

Smith responded, “You can say you’re not going to take any PAC money if you’re not going to get any PAC money,” drawing laughter from the crowd.

Noble also criticized Smith for taking money from SCANA, the Cayce-based power company at the heart of a failed plan to build nuclear reactors in Fairfield County.

Smith said “I’m bought and paid for by no one. The fact is ... $2,000 over 20 years does not buy anything.”

Smith also made a steep promise: “I believe I can return every cent to every South Carolinian that was taken, and I’m going to get that done.”

This story was originally published February 2, 2018 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Pounding fists and unfriendly fire: SC Democrats for governor meet for 1st debate."