BY SCHUYLER KROPF
Of The Post and Courier Staff
State Sen. John Kuhn's recent verbal confrontation with first lady Jenny Sanford is being used against him by one of his Republican primary opponents.
On Monday, Senate District 43 challenger Henry Fishburne told a leading Republican women's group that the spat was part of a pattern of poor judgments Kuhn has shown in office.
"It was an uncomfortable and unfortunate incident," Fishburne said during a forum sponsored by the Charleston County Republican Women's Club.
Fishburne's comments came during a portion of the club's gathering where candidates traditionally introduce themselves to the audience, which numbered about 100 people Monday.
Fishburne went on to criticize Kuhn for filming a campaign television ad on the Senate floor, partially because Kuhn invokes Gov. Mark Sanford's name in the commercial. Sanford has been critical of Kuhn for not supporting his efforts to restructure state government.
"I think what John is saying here is that he is really anxious and desperate to be re-elected," said Fishburne, a Charleston city councilman.
Kuhn did not respond to Fishburne's attack. He delivered his introductory statement to the audience and immediately left for another appointment. Before leav-ing, he did say he supported Sanford in other parts of his agenda.
Fishburne also aimed barbs at the third candidate in the Senate District 43 race, former lawmaker Chip Campsen of the Isle of Palms.
Fishburne said Campsen is relying too much on his friendship with the governor and first lady and not enough on his own abilities in campaigning for the seat.
"I don't think that friendship is the basis for being elected as a state senator," said Fishburne, who may be the least known of the three candidates running for a district that covers parts of Charleston's coast and pushes inland to Berkeley County.
Campsen, like Kuhn, did not respond to Fishburne's charge.
The District 43 race grabbed headlines last week after it was revealed that Kuhn and Jenny Sanford had a verbal confrontation in the Statehouse over a $1,000 contribution she gave Campsen, a long-time family friend and former aide to the governor. Both parties blamed the other for escalating tension during the encounter.
The Republican primary is June 8. With three candidates in the race, a runoff is possible if no candidate collects better than 50 percent of the vote in the first go-round.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/052504/loc_25kuhn.shtml