In a recent editorial in this paper ("Horry GOP, the sick man of politics," Nov. 5), The Sun News claimed that "no candidate for modern-day local and state office really needs political parties to be successful."

This statement could not be any further from the truth. In fact, the relevance of the state and county GOP parties is greater than ever. Just ask former Gov. Jim Hodges. As the Democrats were paying big money to have local operatives, the GOP was relying on grass-roots volunteers organized by the county party chairmen.

The 72-hour plan created by the Republican National Committee and executed by state and county parties all across the country pulled off the most stunning defeat of Democrats in any off-year election in history.

Here in South Carolina, the top 15 counties were totally committed to this program. Each night for the final 14 days before the election, we had conference calls to report our progress and gauge the effectiveness of the volunteers.

Horry County Republican Party Chairman Duane Oliver and myself were part of that total effort.

As a result, vote goals were met, statewide candidate funds were preserved for media buys, and Mark Sanford is now governor and Lindsey Graham is our senator.

Local GOP candidates in Horry County had sweeping victories, and the Democrats did not even field candidates in Spartanburg County. Much of this can be traced back to the efforts of the GOP state and county party volunteer base.

So what if the biannual conventions are somewhat topsy-turvy. The Democrats do not even allow their team members to have the opportunity of open dialogue and necessary dissent.

In respectful rebuttal to the editorial, the competitive spirit in the GOP actually leads to stronger parties and more skilled volunteers, not the "party's rush toward irrelevance."

Do not think for a moment that the Horry County convention was the only place where dissension and open debate were displayed. Most of the major counties had action-packed proceedings, and many party leaders were elected by relatively slim margins. In many counties, we are the only viable political game in town. This is nothing new. I encourage readers to obtain a copy of "Dark Horse," by Kenneth D. Ackerman (2003), which chronicles the 1880 GOP national convention in Chicago. After 36 ballots and nine days later, James A. Garfield was nominated for president. Even with all that disunity, the party 123 years later is stronger than ever.

Furthermore, I attended your convention, and although it was entertaining and somewhat fractious, Horry County party leadership has confirmed that they will reach way out to bring folks back into the fold and calm the waters. I am doing the same thing in Spartanburg.

Is it the place for The Sun News to even take a position in party politics? I would think not. I challenge The Sun News to fairly and with balance report the upcoming expected efforts and successes of the Horry County GOP as it relates to the 2004 election cycle.