COLUMBIA, S.C. - Robert Barber, a Lowcountry
restaurant owner, lobbyist and former state representative, said
Thursday he'll seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant
governor.
Barber, 56, said he now has resigned his lobbyist registration
with South Carolina that had him working with several nonprofit
groups, including the American Cancer Society, South Carolina
Wildlife Federation and Sierra Club.
"My special interest is going to be the citizens of South
Carolina," Barber said. He says his experience in the South Carolina
House, where he served from 1989 to 1994, and tenure on the
Charleston County School Board prepared him for the part-time job of
presiding over the state Senate and overseeing the state Office on
Aging.
Barber says he and his family will visit 110 Main Streets across
the state as part of his "Main Street Democrat" campaign.
He spent Thursday afternoon working the phone to raise campaign
cash and expects the race will cost more than $750,000.
Michael Hollings, a lobbyist and son of former Sen. Ernest
"Fritz" Hollings, dropped out of the race last month. At the time,
Hollings said he was leaving the Democratic race because he wanted
to continue his career as a lobbyist.
On the Republican side, Mike Campbell will face incumbent Lt.
Gov. Andre Bauer in the June primary.
Barber is hopeful that a campaign that emphasizes "Main Street
values" will give him an edge.
Republicans quickly added Barber to their hit list Thursday,
noting the campaign consultant's office he was working from has ties
to Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Emily's
List, an abortion-rights group that supports women seeking public
office.
Democrats face a tough task in winning statewide races. Two
decades ago, they held all nine of the constitutional offices.
Democrats hold two now, and their prospects next year are
questionable.
Last month, Democratic Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum
said she wouldn't seek a third term. That means Republicans won't
face an incumbent in that race and even more eager to target state
Treasurer Grady Patterson, who at 81 becomes his party's standard
bearer.
Democrats expect to field a candidate to replace Tenenbaum - the
GOP already has one - and to offer a viable ticket in November, but
most candidates for down-ticket races won't announce until next
year, said Lachlan McIntosh, executive director of the state
Democratic
Party.
