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Anderson's Henry Jordan, a founder of the state's Christian Coalition, jumped into the Republican lieutenant governor's primary race Wednesday, saying that incumbent Andre Bauer is ethically challenged and Mike Campbell is too inexperienced.
The surprise entry of the semi-retired surgeon came a day after disclosures that Bauer had been stopped by the Highway Patrol for going 101 mph and 77 mph but had not been ticketed for speeding. He also had previously told The Greenville News no such incidents had occurred. In 2003, Bauer was stopped and held at gunpoint by Columbia police after running red lights and initially failing to pull over.
Bauer has dug himself into a political hole with the primary just 10 weeks away, according to John Simpkins, a professor at the Charleston School of Law. "This is serious," Simpkins said.
While walking from the Statehouse in downtown Columbia to file for re-election at GOP headquarters in Lexington, Bauer had no comment on Jordan other than describing him as "a great guy."
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Campbell, son of the late Gov. Carroll Campbell, said he continues to "bring a very unique perspective to this. I'm not one of these people who believe you have to hold one elective office to hold another. I was born the year my dad first ran for office, and I've been around politics and government my entire life, seeing it work at every possible level."
Thursday evening, Campbell announced that he had pumped $500,000 in personal
funds into his campaign in the form of a loan.
The Columbia businessman
has trailed Bauer in fund raising. Their state Ethics Commission reports showed
that Bauer had raised $738,704 to Campbell's $421,645 through Dec. 31. Their
first quarter 2006 reports are due April 10.
Jordan's entry could
energize what had been a somnolent race and provide a rallying point for
Christian conservatives, said Dave Woodard, a Clemson University political
scientist and Republican consultant. Jordan, 61, said in an interview that Bauer
is "ethically and morally challenged" and Campbell is too green.
"I have
been considering this race for over six months, and the last straw was the
current traffic violations and potential legal problems of Lt. Gov. Bauer,"
Jordan said in a statement released just before he filed as a candidate.
Jordan has run for office before but has never been elected.
He
said Bauer "is not a good example for South Carolina when he repeatedly ignores
laws that all other citizens must respect and obey."
"Mike Campbell
should not expect South Carolina to elect him simply on the basis of his family
name and his father's record, when he has insufficient experience to recommend
him," Jordan said. "We need mature and experienced leaders."
Clemson's
Woodard said Jordan would inject fire into the race, igniting conservatives "who
were not excited about either candidate earlier."
"I think all three
candidates will be trying to appeal to the Christian conservatives who are
especially important to a primary victory, but Jordan probably has their
hearts," he said.
Jordan, an Air Force Academy and Emory School of
Medicine graduate and Vietnam War veteran, last ran for office in 1994, when he
sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, losing to Bob Peeler
in the runoff. He was a state organizer of Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson's
1988 presidential bid. Jordan ran for the U.S. House in 1988 and Senate in 1996.
He generated controversy as a member of the state Board of Education
when he said, "Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims," during a board
discussion in which he defended the public display of the Ten Commandments.
Gov. Campbell appointed Jordan to the board of the Department of Health
and Environmental Control for a 1987-91 term.