Posted on Sun, Sep. 03, 2006

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THE BUZZ | Group for Hillary facing challenges

“The best-laid plans can be disrupted by Mother Nature.”

— Gov. Mark Sanford, speaking early last week about preparations for Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Robert Kunst, president of a national organization urging Sen. Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2008, is finding few interested in forming a chapter here.

Only 10 people showed up at an organizational meeting last week at the Publick House, a popular Columbia watering hole.

“I can’t figure out what went wrong here,” Kunst said, expressing disappointment at the light turnout. “This is a goose egg for Columbia.”

Noting South Carolina is going to be one of the early Democratic primary states in 2008, Kunst appealed to the group, “We need to get things cooking here.”

After much debate, the group decided on a bumper sticker, “Gamecocks for Hillary.”

The group is set to meet again Thursday at Publick House to discuss strategy, including “tailgate” parties for Hillary at the USC/Clemson football game in November.

AIMING FOR PROSPERITY

Mike Campbell, who lost a June Republican primary battle to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, is heading up the state chapter of a national free-market interest group.

The son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell will run Americans for Prosperity’s South Carolina chapter, Campbell said last week The chapter is the two-year-old Washington-based group’s 15th state unit.

The S.C. chapter plans to host training seminars, sign up activists and highlight “wasteful government spending.”

TAKING A SHOT

Dove season kicked off Saturday in South Carolina, but some real shooting is set to take place next week.

A Sept. 11 fundraiser for Karen Floyd, the Republican candidate for education superintendent, offers contributors the chance to take part in a dove shoot.

The afternoon event in Florence costs $1,000 for those wanting to shoot. Dinner is $100 per couple.

Floyd, who won the five-person GOP primary in June, lists duck hunting among her hobbies.

Vice President Dick Cheney, who also enjoys hunting as a hobby, is not scheduled to attend.

ROCK ON

While Floyd supporters will be shooting for dollars, those helping Democratic opponent Jim Rex may be taking shots, too.

Billed as “Rex Rocks,” backers of the Democratic candidate for education superintendent are invited to a party at the Blue Martini in Columbia’s Vista. The event features the “hard rock sounds of Hour Zero.“

Admission is $25 a person at the door. Students with a valid college identification are admitted free. The fundraiser features free appetizers and a cash bar.

ALPHABET SOUP

Several interest groups are joining forces in their battle for lower taxes and spending.

Members of CAUS, the Coalition Against Unlimited Spending, said they plan to work with General Assembly leaders to lessen the impact of this year’s property tax reform legislation on business, among other goals.

Leaders of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the S.C. Manufacturer’s Alliance, S.C. Association of Taxpayers and South Carolinians for Responsible Government held a joint news conference at the State House last week to announce the group.

ON THE HILL

Former state Rep. Al Robinson has joined the nation’s third-largest labor and employment law firm.

Robinson, a Republican, served in the General Assembly from 1992 to 2002 representing Pickens County.

Before joining Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, he was acting Wage and Hour Administrator at the U.S. Department of Labor.

WHAT THEY MAKE

Go to http://www.thestate.com/ for a searchable list of salaries for state employees earning more than $50,000 a year.