House Speaker David Wilkins on Monday was named chairman of President Bush’s re-election effort in South Carolina.

Wilkins will be joined by Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who will serve as co-chairmen.

In the 2000 GOP primary, Sanford and Graham were co-chairmen of Bush rival John McCain’s campaign in South Carolina.

Ken Mehlman, Bush’s national campaign manager, announced the appointments of Wilkins, Sanford and Graham at a Columbia news conference.

“South Carolina will play a key role in this election,” Mehlman said in presenting the leadership team. “We are honored to have such a seasoned group of leaders at the helm of Bush-Cheney ‘04 in South Carolina, and their effort will be crucial to our success.”

Bush’s re-election is critical to the country’s future, Mehlman said, and the S.C. leadership team will help make that happen.

Wilkins assured Mehlman that no one is more committed to seeing the president re-elected than he, Sanford and Graham.

The rest of the campaign steering committee is made up of legislative leaders, county chairmen and state officials.

Sanford said South Carolinians appreciate Bush’s leadership and “common sense” approach to governing.

Graham said he likes Bush “because when he tells you something, you know he’s going to do it.”

He noted Bush carried the state with 57 percent of the vote in 2000, and said, “We are going to work hard to make sure he wins again.”

Mehlman said the leadership team will devote the bulk of its time to voter registration, voter identification and building a strong grass-roots network.

Reach Bandy at (803) 771-8648 or lbandy@thestate.com.