Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009

The Buzz: McMaster buys TV time for race

• Quote of the week

“... People smell blood in the water, and they keep coming and coming and coming.”

— Gov. Mark Sanford, responding to allegations he used state planes for personal and political purposes, and broke state law by flying in expensive seating on overseas trips. Those allegations, Sanford said, are unfair.

THIS WEEK

Friday: The state Board of Economic Advisors will meet at 2 p.m. Friday, in Room 417 of the Rembert Dennis Building. Why is that of interest? The board projects state revenues, which continue to slump. Already, the state — which cut more than $1 billion from its budget last year — faces the prospect of cutting $200 million from its budget for the year that started July 1. Lower projections by the board could add to those cuts.

• McMaster buys TV time for race

Coming soon to a television near you: Another candidate for governor.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, a Columbia Republican, has bought television air time across the state on Monday and Tuesday. That timing is expected to coincide with McMaster’s official announcement that he is running for governor.

While relatively small, the ad purchase — at least $20,000 — will target most S.C. markets.

“We have reserved some time,” said McMaster campaign spokesman Rob Godfrey. McMaster will “continue to talk about things he’s done and a real record of accomplishment.”

McMaster has been telling audiences for months they will “love him as governor,” adding an announcement was likely by the end of August.

McMaster enters a GOP field that includes U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett of Westminster, state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County, and state Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington. Also likely to join the race is Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Rivals say buying TV ads 10 months before the June 2010 GOP primary is not a sign of a healthy campaign. McMaster had lackluster second-quarter fundraising, collecting less than he did during the first three months of this year.

However, Godfrey dismissed those critiques as sniping, adding state voters are comfortable with McMaster.

“Activists know him and like him and trust him,” Godfrey said. “He’s had overwhelming support from all corners of the state.”

Teachers of the Year endorse Rex

Four former S.C. Teachers of the Year have endorsed state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex’s exploratory campaign for governor.

Those endorsing Rex are:

• Jenna Hallman, 2009 teacher of the year

• Buffy Murphy, 2007 teacher of the year

• Linda “Cookie” Winburn, 2005 teacher of the year

• Traci Young Cooper, 2002 teacher of the year

“Jim Rex has been a friend to the teaching community in this state, while always putting the needs of our students first and working to improve public education at every turn,” said Hallman. “I hope he will seek the governor’s office.”

• How I spent my summer vacation

First of all, not in Argentina — let’s make that clear — though it’s traditional for members of Congress to travel during their summer recess.

• Second District U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, for instance, spent some time visiting U.S. troops in Iraq.

On Monday, Wilson will be in perhaps more dangerous confines, as he hosts a town hall meeting on health care reform in the gymnasium of W.J. Keenan High School. The forum will start at 6 p.m. at the campus at 361 Pisgah Church Road.

• Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, R-Travelers Rest, already has held health care forums and has more on tap: Monday, Sue Cleveland Elementary School, Piedmont; Tuesday, Travelers Rest library; Thursday, R.D. Anderson Applied Tech Center, Moore; Aug. 24, New Prospect Elementary School, Inman; and Aug. 25, Lake Forest Elementary, Greenville. All start at 7 p.m.

• Sixth District U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn will hold a town hall meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Columbia’s Drew Wellness Center. Also attending will be state Rep. Joe Neal, D-Columbia.

• U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-Greenville, will visit 12 S.C. cities, starting Monday in Charleston. At 7:30 a.m., DeMint will address the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association meeting at Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Drive, and take questions.

On Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., DeMint will address a Rotary Club of Charleston luncheon at the Citadel Alumni House, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, and take questions.

On Wednesday, he will be in Myrtle Beach.

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