Democrats need cash, swing voters

The 2006 elections offer South Carolina Democrats their best opportunity in some time.

The open question is whether they can take advantage of it.

It won’t come easy.

First, their gubernatorial nominee, state Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater, must raise a boatload of money, something in the $3 million to $5 million range, to be competitive.

His chief rival, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, is already sitting on a mound of $4.6 million and pledges to spend it all — and then some — between now and Election Day.

Second, the Democrats need a good split in the S.C. GOP. They have one with Sanford and the Republican-controlled General Assembly constantly at each other’s throat.

GOP chairman Katon Dawson said the split causes him to be “uncomfortable.”

It is unclear how deep that division goes and how many GOP legislators will step off the reservation and publicly endorse Moore.

Third, Democrats must cash in on the sentiment for change. This election comes in the middle of President Bush’s second term. Such midterm elections historically tend to be about change. Usually, it’s bad news for the party in power — in this case, Republicans.

State Democratic chairman Joe Erwin contends the throw-the-bums-out sentiment is strong. “There’s so much discontent with the people in office,” he said.

Fourth, Democrats need to accentuate the issues that appeal to swing voters, who ultimately will decide this race.

Education, particularly vouchers or tax credits versus public schools, is one such issue.

Sanford has supported school vouchers in the past and as governor has advocated for tuition tax credits for private school tuition. The issue sparks heated debate between public school advocates and those who favor broader options.

Swing voters — educated, independent-minded and generally moderate in their politics — are up for grabs. Many are turned off by Sanford’s appeals to hard-core conservatives and libertarians in the GOP.

But Moore will have to make a convincing case that he can do a better job than Sanford. He must show he is able to step up to the plate and be a major league candidate.

Moore failed on that count in his first televised debate with primary rival Florence Mayor Frank Willis.

The Democrats came out of the primary generally united. What they hope to do now is turn that vote out in November, get a good share of independent, or swing, voters, and a smattering of disgruntled Republicans.