FORT MILL -- After a week where his
opponent grabbed cash and headlines with a visit from the vice
president, Democratic U.S. Rep. John Spratt will try to gain center
stage today when he publicly kicks off his re-election bid.
York's Spratt, who was first elected to Congress in 1982, starts
public events at 9:30 a.m. in Fort Mill, where he will be flanked by
area mayors Bob Runde of Tega Cay, Charlie Powers of Fort Mill and Doug
Echols of Rock Hill.
"This is the heart of York County's new development, and we will have
local leaders to show their support," said Robert Hopkins, Spratt's
district coordinator.
Runde, who said he considers himself a Republican, said he must
support Spratt over the Republican challenger, S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman of
Rock Hill, because of Spratt's experience and tenure in Washington. The
area and state need Spratt's political strength, Runde said.
"I think highly of Ralph and supported his run for the Statehouse,"
Runde said. "I just think he needs a little more experience. When John
retires, Ralph will be a great addition."
Spratt will be in Fort Mill at the Baxter Village Information Center
at 1030 Assembly Drive. He will be in Camden and Hartsville later today
and in Sumter on Thursday. Spratt won all 14 5th Congressional District
counties in 2004, when he easily defeated Republican challenger Albert
Spencer.
However, the national and state GOP has targeted Spratt, vowing to
raise the money needed to beat him. But Norman isn't nearly as well
known as Spratt in the 5th district's other counties. For example,
Spratt has campaigned that he has fought for years to keep Sumter's Shaw
Air Force Base open and can run on a proven track record of constituent
service in all of the counties.
"Spratt has the edge in name recognition, no question," said John
Safford, a political science and political philosophy professor at the
University of South Carolina-Sumter, located in one of the district's
crucial counties.
However, the GOP has a strong organization in places such as Sumter,
said Tom Powers, another USC-Sumter professor. Political observers have
said South Carolina is becoming increasingly conservative and
Republican, but Spratt is one of the last mainstays of the Democrats.
"No other Democrat than John Spratt could win this district," Powers
said. "It's his to lose."
Andrew Dys • 329-4065
adys@heraldonline.com
