COLUMBIA - For a Republican-dominated state government, Grady Patterson and Inez Tenenbaum are blemishes on an otherwise red flag.

Patterson, the state treasurer, and Tenenbaum, the superintendent of Education, are the only two Democrats elected statewide.

This year the 82-year-old Patterson is seeking a 10th term while Tenenbaum announced last year she wouldn't pursue a third term.

The allure of taking over the two traditionally blue seats is so great that nine GOP candidates are trying their lot in the generally uninspiring June 13 primary.

"This is what happens when there is nothing going at the top of the ticket," said Chip Felkel, an Upstate GOP consultant.

Sure, Prosperity physician Oscar Lovelace is challenging Republican Gov. Mark Sanford and three Democrats - including state Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater and Florence Mayor Frank Willis - are competing for the Democratic nod.

But the only questions there are: How much wind Lovelace will take out of Sanford's sails and which Democrat will get to face a popular incumbent with a $5 million war chest?

The real action will come from the down-ticket races for posts like treasurer and superintendent, where the political stakes are high, the cash is mounting and the mud is slinging.

Here's what political pundits are watching for in the two hottest GOP primary contests:

State treasurer

Welcome to what is expected to be a record-setting money race full of dirt. Four GOP candidates are battling for a chance to challenge Patterson, who's held the office for 36 of the last 40 years.

Each of the candidates is pounding on the same themes - fiscal conservatism and ties to Sanford - but they have very difference fortunes at stake.

Three-term state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, lost to Patterson in 2002, earning 48 percent of the vote.

He's back and means business, as evidenced by the $2 million he pumped into his campaign. Losing twice is not an option for Ryberg, 59. Political observers say another defeat would pretty much end his aspirations for a higher office.

It's the same story for Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel. He finished third in the 2004 U.S. Senate race won by Jim DeMint after spending $2.9 million of personal funds.

Being a state treasurer is not the perch Ravenel, 43, ultimately wants. But winning could be a huge platform for a potential 2008 challenge to Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Candidate Rick Quinn, the former House majority leader, is just trying to get back in the game. Quinn, 40, served 16 years in the House before losing his seat in 2002.

Quinn's running a ground-level campaign, traveling the state, attending functions and shaking as many hands as possible. While the two millionaires fight it out, he could be a sleeper candidate that slips into the expected run-off.

The fourth candidate is Pickens home builder and political novice Jeff Willis, 37. He's making waves for being the most outspoken critic of Ryberg's mega contribution. As an underdog with a future, this campaign might prove a solid test run.

Education superintendent

It's a five-way race for the Republican nomination to challenge the Democrats on their home turf.

The money race indicates that two front-runners are emerging - Karen Floyd, a Spartanburg public relations executive, and Bob Staton, a former insurance executive and former member of the state education board.

In this GOP primary tussle, the race for superintendent is more about who carries the most authentic party credentials than the question of how to improve South Carolina's schools.

Staton is taking the most heat through a negative blitz by South Carolinians for Responsible Government, a nonprofit political organization that is labeling him a "RINO" - or "Republican In Name Only."

The term is being used as a code word to indicate that Staton isn't a proponent of the group's controversial school choice plan dubbed "Put Parents In Charge." Staton favors charter schools and more choice within public schools.

Floyd supports the voucher plan supported by Sanford but is trying to distance her campaign from any affiliation with the group. Still the issue highlights a sore spot for Floyd, who also has a history of donating to Democratic candidates.

In this race and the treasurer's campaign, expect some fireworks.

John Frank covers the Legislature and state politics in Columbia. Reach him at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.