SC Democrats hope top candidates shine at state convention

As S.C. Democrats convene Saturday, they have high hopes of regaining a congressional seat long held by a party power.

Democrats also will be electing delegates to help pick their party’s presidential nominee in July.

Tega Cay’s Fran Person, a former eight-year aide to Vice President Joe Biden, is perhaps the party's fastest rising S.C. star. Person, who will speak briefly at the convention, is running for the state’s 5th District congressional seat, now held by U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-Indian Land.

From late February, when he entered the race, through the end of March, Person raised nearly $178,000 for his campaign, out-fundraising Mulvaney, who brought in more than $164,000 during 2016’s first quarter. However, with more than $300,000 in cash on hand, the GOP incumbent maintains a 2-1 warchest advantage.

Person’s fundraising haul during the first quarter even narrowly surpassed U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, the state’s lone Democrat in Congress. No other Democratic congressional candidate raised in the six digits.

Person’s candidacy has created buzz in Democratic circles. The political newcomer is viewed as potentially competitive in a GOP-dominated state, where congressional districts have grown redder after redistricting.

“Because of his connections to national politics, his ability to raise money and his ... interesting, fresh-face profile, that's the one (race) that is garnering some realistic attention,” said Carey Crantford, a Columbia-based Democratic pollster.

Elected in the Tea Party wave of 2010, Mulvaney ousted longtime Democratic stalwart John Spratt, D-York, from the House. Spratt had been in Congress for nearly 30 years, rising to chairman of the U.S. House budget-writing committee. In that post, he helped write President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, which fueled a Republican takeover of the House.

In his first two re-election bids, Mulvaney beat low-funded Democratic challengers by 11 and 18 points, respectively. This year, however, the six-year incumbent could face a well-financed Democratic opponent. For the first time, he also has a challenger in June’s GOP primary.

Person said he is working hard to raise money and prove he is a viable candidate — moves that could attract help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which offers financial support in competitive races. “They're watching what I can do right now, what type of candidate I'm going to be.”

Person also said he would love to have Biden join him on the campaign trail, though there are no plans now. However, Biden has signed fundraising emails on Person’s behalf.

Democrats also will hear from other congressional candidates, including:

▪ Thomas Dixon, a North Charleston pastor with experience in grassroots organizing, who is running against U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-North Charleston

▪ Spartanburg attorney Chris Fedalei, who is running for the 4th District congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-Spartanburg.

S.C. Democrats have 179 candidates vying to fill 53 delegate positions for July’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Thirty-nine delegates will be pledged to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and 14 will be pledged to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Democratic front-runner Clinton won the state's primary handily, taking 73 percent of the vote to Sanders' 26 percent.

The party also has six superdelegates and will elect another member to the Democratic National Committee, increasing the state’s representation to three members from two.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "SC Democrats hope top candidates shine at state convention."