After placing first in the GOP primary June 8, Campsen took 57 percent of the vote to Kuhn's 43 percent. According to unofficial returns, the vote was 5,046 to 3,756.

The Senate race was unusually lively for a Statehouse race. Even while touting his working record with Sanford, Kuhn had blasted Campsen for enlisting Sanford's help as a congressman to have the National Park Service negotiate with Campsen's family's Fort Sumter tour boat company, a move that ultimately saved the family more than $1 million.

After that, the discourse in the race disintegrated even further. At a radio appearance on the Rocky D show last week, Kuhn complained about Campsen campaign workers filming the debate.

Kuhn came out of nowhere with his surprise win in a 2001 special election, upsetting two well-known local politicians: Republican Buck Limehouse in the primary, and Democrat Leon Stavrinakis in the general election.

Kuhn did not sit quietly on the back row in the Senate chamber. At the end of the 2003 session his last-minute filibuster killed a bond bill that included $80 million for Charleston colleges. After that, his own delegation turned against him. Some Charleston County legislative delegation members endorsed Campsen in the race, a rarity among sitting politicians.

By comparison, Campsen, a state House member from the Isle of Palms for three terms, found much support among local politicians, and even former Senate District 43 candidate Henry Fishburne, the Charleston city councilman.

Campsen stepped down from the House on a term-limits promise. He served in Sanford's Cabinet for the first year of the governor's term.

Campsen said after a short break he will begin his general election campaign against Isle of Palms Democrat Constance Anastopoulo.

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/062304/loc_23campsen.shtml