Attorney general Wilson: Bid for Gov’s office ‘not even on (his) radar’

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson told The Buzz last week that running for governor or Congress is “not even on my radar. I’m not even thinking about that.”

But, even as he professes disinterest in higher office, Wilson’s political clout is rising on the 2016 presidential breeze.

The Lexington Republican said Thursday he will host 16 GOP presidential candidates in forums across the state leading up to the Feb. 20 primary.

(And yes, dear reader, Donald Trump is coming.)

Footing the bill is a little-known nonprofit called the Conservative Leadership Project, started by Wilson and his allies in 2012.

With former Attorney General Charlie Condon and Columbia attorney Mitch Willoughby on its board of directors, the project raised more than $200,000 in 2013 and 2014 to promote civic education and discourse, according to tax records filed by Wilson political consultant Richard Quinn.

The so-called social welfare nonprofit is allowed to raise unlimited contributions and keep its donors secret. That secrecy has come in handy for similar “dark money” groups looking to influence the outcome of campaigns.

Wilson says the project’s goal is educational – to allow a “free-flowing discussion of ideas.” He added the nonprofit could shift into more of an advocacy role, pushing for judicial reforms in South Carolina.

The forums will have another effect, S.C. political observers note.

Chip Felkel, a Greenville GOP consultant, noted the exposure “sure doesn’t hurt” Wilson, who has been “at the forefront of some state and federal fights,” including several court challenges that, while popular with conservatives, the state lost. Wilson added Planned Parenthood to his list of targets Thursday, announcing plans to unleash the Medicaid fraud team to see if any government money has been used improperly to pay for abortions.

“Like any good politician, he’s got his eye open for the future,” said Citadel political scientist Scott Buchanan. “Whether that’s a position in a Republican administration in 2017 or running for another office in 2018 is anyone’s guess.”

(Who was the one GOP presidential candidate not invited to one of Wilson’s forums? Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, who is polling lower than U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of Seneca.)

Taking a breather on Biden

Vice President Joe Biden’s top fan in South Carolina said he is done talking for a while.

“I’ve probably already said too much,” Dick Harpootlian told The Buzz, referring to the most recent slew of news articles detailing the vice president’s potential bid against Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton – the trail often leading back to Harpo.

Harpo said he gave $10,000 to Draft Biden, the political committee trying to recruit the vice president to run for president. However, the former S.C. Democratic Party chairman said he has no deeper insights into Biden’s thinking.

But with this month’s media fixation on whether Biden will run, the VP’s S.C. backers are becoming more vocal. State Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, told the Greenville News that Biden would unify voters in what has so far been a campaign reminiscent of a “bad reality TV show.”

Former S.C. Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum – an Obama Administration alum – told the Greenville News that Biden, her pick for president, would make the Democratic contest a “real horse race,” instead of “a coronation.”

Not all signals are pointing toward a Biden run.

A Democratic source “familiar with White House thinking” told CNN that there is no “Biden caucus” forming in the West Wing, and running could “damage the vice president’s carefully cultivated brand of respected Democratic Party elder statesman.”

For now, Harpo is playing wait and see, hoping Biden takes the growing grassroots support and runs with it.

When he has more to say, Harpo knows the national media is waiting. CNN’s Anderson Cooper said South Carolina’s most-quotable breathing sound byte could come on his show anytime, Harpo said.

2016 in SC

Ben Carson: The retired Pennsylvania neurosurgeon is holding a “Back to School Bash” in West Columbia on Sunday at Midlands Technical College’s Airport Campus from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Later Sunday, Republican Carson will be the honored guest at a $500-a-ticket cocktail party and $150-a-plate dinner in Seneca. Monday morning, Carson has a 7:30 a.m. event planned at Unlimited Landscape, Stone and Granite in Seneca.

Faith and Freedom: You can catch three GOP presidential contenders Monday at the 5th Annual Faith and Freedom BBQ, hosted by Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, at the Anderson Civic Center. Carson, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas will be special guests. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Rick Perry: The former GOP Texas governor will take part in a town-hall meeting hosted by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Leaside in Columbia. On Friday, Perry will attend a Lexington County GOP breakfast at Lizard’s Thicket in Lexington and an Aiken County GOP lunch at Newberry Hall in Aiken.

Cruz: The Republican U.S. senator from Texas is speaking Friday at a Greenville GOP event at the Cannon Centre in Greer.

Cruz and Perry: The duo will headline a “We Stand with God” pro-family rally at the S.C. State House at 11 a.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Attorney general Wilson: Bid for Gov’s office ‘not even on (his) radar’."