(Columbia-AP) September 22,
2005 - The Prosperity physician taking on Republican
Governor Mark Sanford in the June GOP primary says
Sanford is to blame for the loss of the state's top
credit rating with Standard and Poor's.
Doctor Oscar Lovelace formally kicked off his
campaign Thursday morning in Columbia. Lovelace
says Sanford has a knack for picking fights with the
legislature that have undermined the state's business
climate.
Lovelace also says Sanford wants to abandon public
schools and is unwilling to do anything to about tobacco
use.
Sanford's campaign did not respond to the criticism.
It said Sanford keeps his focus on defending South
Carolina taxpayers and creating jobs.
Lovelace wants to raise the cigarette tax to the
national average to generate $1 billion for
property tax reduction.
Updated 12:03pm by Bryce
Mursch
