Promising a campaign of “solutions and not just sound bites,” Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Aiken, announced on Saturday that he is officially a candidate for governor in 2006.

Moore, 54, told 1,000 fellow Democrats at the state party’s annual convention that he wants to take on Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

“South Carolina cannot succeed unless it has a chief executive who is dedicated to promoting, supporting and defending the finest public education system that this state is capable of providing,” Moore told the crowd in Columbia.

While his candidacy has been rumored for weeks, Moore’s announcement Saturday guarantees the party at least one established candidate who could be the Democratic nominee.

Moore might not be alone. Florence Mayor Frank Willis, 63, said Saturday that he is likely to be a candidate as well. Willis said he will probably announce in “the next couple weeks,” saying he is still learning the issues. Willis said Sanford has bashed the Legislature and has worked to turn the public against the General Assembly.

Perhaps the most buzz at Saturday’s convention was about a man who was not there. Delegates and party officials were whispering about rumors that Michael Hollings, son of Democratic legend Fritz Hollings, is also considering a bid for governor.

Efforts to reach Michael Hollings on Saturday were unsuccessful.

Whether it is a two-way or three-way race, a primary appears on the horizon for the Democratic nomination for governor and the chance to challenge Sanford. No other Republican has yet to express an interest in challenging Sanford.

State Democratic Party chairman Joe Erwin welcomes a crowded field for the party’s nomination.

“I like primaries,” Erwin said. “I’ve told all our candidates, ‘I think primaries help you. They make you a better candidate.’”

Willis might not yet be an official candidate, but he was not shy Saturday when asked why he’d be a better candidate than Moore.

“Tommy is establishment,” Willis said. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s establishment.”

Moore has been in the Legislature 26 years.

He was not inclined to respond in kind.

“(It’s) a poor frog (that) won’t brag on his own pond,” Moore said. If Willis “is going to run, he better think he’s the better candidate.”

Republicans wasted no time in attacking Moore. State party chairman Katon Dawson said if Moore is the Democrats’ nominee, “voters will have a real choice between a conservative Republican like Mark Sanford who wants to cut taxes, and a liberal Democrat like Tommy Moore, who wants to raise them.”

But Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon said Moore is no liberal.

“He’s smart,” Huffmon said. “He’ll get a lot of attention. No one can toss a lot of these labels at him.”

Huffmon said Moore’s greatest obstacles at this point are a lack of statewide name recognition and Sanford’s apparent success in connecting with average citizens, not party regulars.

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.