We now know one prominent Democrat who will not be challenging Republican Governor Mark Sanford next year.

Inez Tenenbaum.

State Democratic Chairman Joe Erwin tells News Channel 7 that Tenenbaum won't be a candidate.

"From what Inez has told me is that she does not plan to run for governor," said Erwin. "I think her focus is on her job as superintendent of education. And given the funding cutbacks that we've seen in education, her plate's pretty full. So I don't see her as a candidate."

Tenenbaum was Democrats' hope last fall for keeping retiring Sen. Fritz Hollings' seat, which he'd held for 38 years. However, she lost to Jim DeMint 54%-44%.

Erwin says he's not running for governor either.

He is, however, hoping to get another term as state party leader.

He acknowledges he has his work cut out for him if he's to make it a viable party again in the so-called Red States like South Carolina.

Erwin has already given some advice to newly-elected national chairman Howard Dean.

"I gave Howard a good bit of advice," said Erwin. "And I did that in a way that I hope he will take to heart. Number one, I told him, Howard, you need to get out of the Beltway.

"I think part of the problem with the old Democratic National Committee establishment is that it was inside-the-Beltway thinking."

The Beltway is the interstate loop around the capital and has become a political metaphor for living in an area out of touch with average Americans.

Erwin is an advertising executive who agrees with critics who say Democrats have a big marketing problem.

"I think we know intuitively what our brand is about," he said. "It's about equal opportunity. It's about respect for all people. But how you synthesize that into a 30-second commercial is harder for Democrats that it is Republicans."

He says all Republicans need to say is "smaller government, lower taxes" and people understand where they're coming from.

It's also a fact that now in South Carolina voters don't respond to the Democratic label, according to former Democratic Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore.

"I think that quite frankly if you have a Republican---a little 'r' by your name---your chances of election or reelection or survival are much greater," he said.

Erwin hopes to change that, if South Carolina Democrats elect him to another two-year term, by improving the state party's voter information database and finding good candidates to run.

So far, he's the only candidate for chairman.

The election will occur during the state Democratic convention on April 23rd.