Kuhn objects to camera Campsen had at debate
BY SCHUYLER KROPF
Of The Post and Courier Staff
Republican state Senate candidates Chip Campsen and John Kuhn were having a testy debate on the radio, but the real fight came over a video camera.
Off the air during their 90-minute showdown Friday, Kuhn and Campsen traded snarls over the presence of a state-of-the-art, hand-held video camera Campsen brought along.
Kuhn, the District 43 incumbent, strongly objected to Campsen filming the event, saying no one told him about it before he arrived at the studio.
"It's general practice to not have cameras unless you clear it through the other side," Kuhn said.
"It's what?" Campsen replied.
"It's general practice ..." Kuhn answered.
"I know what general practice means," Campsen interrupted.
"I'm saying 'no,' " Kuhn said.
Debate host and afternoon radio personality Rocky D intervened, asking Kuhn, "Do you want the camera removed?"
"Yes," Kuhn said.
Rocky D asked if removing the camera would "kill" Campsen's appearance.
"Well, I had a guy come," said Campsen.
Rocky D said he didn't see a problem with the camera. The debate was open to the public and to the news media, including local TV stations.
In the end, the two agreed to sign a statement in which Campsen agreed that none of the footage would be used in a TV ad before Tuesday's runoff election.
Campsen's campaign said that was never a consideration because there isn't enough time to make a new ad. The film might go into an ad against District 43 Democratic candidate Constance Anastopoulo in November, an aide said, but that's only if Campsen wins the nomination.
The two men settled down, but the camera issue popped up again moments later when Campsen's photographer flicked on a bright studio lamp that shined into Kuhn's face.
"We're now going to have lights and everything else?" he asked.
Once things settled down, the two candidates sparred over their positions on government reform, tax cuts and who is the better man to serve the district. No fresh ground was broken.
Campsen, a former lawmaker who lives on the Isle of Palms, finished first in the June 8 primary, collecting 42 percent of the vote. Kuhn, of downtown Charleston, is facing his first defense of the District 43 seat. He finished second with 36 percent.
The district stretches from the Isle of Palms to Folly Beach before boundaries move inland to include parts of the Charleston peninsula, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston and lower Berkeley County. It includes eight municipalities and most of Charleston's major tourism sites.
Schuyler Kropf covers state and local politics. Contact him at skropf@ postandcourier.com or 937-5551.
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