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Article published Mar 13, 2005
S.C. Democrats to study basics of
campaigning
COLUMBIA -- School's in session for South Carolina
Democrats.Democrats from around the state planned to gather Saturday for
"Campaign University 2005," a daylong seminar aimed at converting their
postelection gloom into pre-election action."Everyone needs to get on the same
page and get out the message better," said Michelle Macrina, the state
Democratic Party's acting executive director."They'll walk away learning how to
run a campaign."From effective party messages to campaign finance laws, elected
officials, potential candidates and other party faithful will learn the ropes
from veteran Democratic insiders.Mike McCauley, a student at The Charleston
School of Law, said he has plenty to learn despite his previous campaign
experience."I think all of us in the party agree we have some work to do," said
McCauley, 26."This is a way for us all to get together and get excited."Keynote
speaker Donnie Fowler said Democrats need to begin preparing now for the 2006
elections, with a focus on building from the grass roots."The Democrats have too
often waited until a few months before an election to engage voters," said
Fowler, a former candidate for the party's national chairmanship."It has to be a
continual conversation."South Carolina politics are controlled by
Republicans."After last year's election results, it really isn't a surprise they
are going back to school this weekend," said Luke Byars, executive director of
the state Republican Party.Democrats know they are the underdog in state
politics."It's definitely an uphill battle," Macrina said, "but it's a fight to
the end."Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Southern Politics, Media
and Public Life at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said
Democrats need to focus on the party's institutional structure, its message and
its messengers.An internal debate among Democrats is whether the party should
maintain its conventional platform or embrace a more centrist, value-oriented
message, Guillory said.In South Carolina, the latter is the only way to win,
said House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews."We need to reintroduce
values," he said. "We've allowed Republicans to paint us as somehow not being
Christians."The question of the messenger could be the most difficult. Lawmakers
already are asking who will challenge Republican Gov. Mark Sanford in 2006.
Political observers say the decision needs to come soon, especially if the party
plans to raise enough money to be competitive.State Sens. Tommy Moore of Aiken,
Yancey McGill of Kingstree and Glenn Reese of Inman all have been mentioned as
potential gubernatorial candidates, but none has announced his
candidacy.------
Information from: The Post and Courier,
http://www.charleston.net