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Article published Mar 3, 2005
Reese eyes run for governor
COLUMBIA -- State Sen.
Glenn Reese is pondering a 2006 run for the Governor's Mansion.Maybe."Anytime
you're an elected official and you see the obvious shortcomings of the current
administration, it's only natural to look in the mirror and say 'Am I the chosen
one?' " Reese, a Boiling Springs Democrat, said Wednesday.Reese, the owner of
Spartanburg's Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, said he would make a final decision in
late summer. He said he's hopeful that someone else will emerge to challenge
Gov. Mark Sanford."I'll be glad to support anyone from the Democratic Party who
runs," Reese said. "Hopefully it will not be my lot in life to do it. It's a
tremendous undertaking."Uphill fight?It also could be mission impossible.
Sanford is wildly popular, and the Democratic Party barely has a pulse in South
Carolina.Republicans enjoy solid majorities in the state House and Senate; most
constitutional officers are Republicans (state Superintendent of Education Inez
Tenenbaum is the lone Democrat); and both U.S. Senators are members of the
GOP.Reese said he believes Upstate residents are primed to support an Upstate
candidate. He also said Sanford had "created ill will among both parties"and
that he is vulnerable."His falling approval ratings and his failure to
accomplish anything will give a strong Democrat a chance," Reese said."He's
pushing 'Put Parents in Charge' and it's not going to pass. He's pushing
lowering the (state) income tax and it's not going to pass. He's pushing
government restructuring and it's not going to pass. That's three of his top
items that aren't going to make it."A potential Reese candidacy was questioned
by a Spartanburg professor."My first reaction is that the Democrats have a short
bench," said Wofford government professor Robert Jeffrey. "It surprises
me."Jeffrey could not immediately think of another potential candidate. Hardly
any Democrats, he said, have statewide name recognition.He noted that Reese has
done well in his district, which is heavily black. He added that Reese was not
known as extremely liberal so he might have luck winning support from moderate
whites.But it probably won't matter who takes the Democratic nod, Jeffrey
said."Who ever is the nominee probably won't win," he said.A source who spoke on
condition of anonymity said Reese was off base on Sanford's approval rating. A
poll conducted in connection with "Put Parents in Charge," Sanford's plan to
give tax credits to families to cover the cost of private school tuition, put
the governor's approval rating at 70 percent, the source said.Reese said that if
he does jump into the race, he would campaign on bringing people together and
doing away with the partisanship that marks state politics today.Sanford
spokesman Will Folks said he would welcome Reese to the party."We welcome anyone
to the discussion of ideas we're having about moving South Carolina forward,"
Folks said. "Sen. Reese has proven fairly adept at stopping things. We look
forward to any positive, forward-looking ideas he might bring to the
table."Reese, 63, has been in the state Senate since 1991. He ran against
Republican Jim DeMint for the 5th Congressional District seat in 1998 and
suffered a crushing defeat.Staff Writer Alexander Morrison contributed to this
report.Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.