Moore considering Sanford challenge

By PHILIP LORD Senior writer

Sen. Tommy Moore has spent a lot of time recently listening to those who want him to take the biggest leap of his political life.

The Clearwater Democrat has also spent time talking to friends and family about the possibility of running for governor.

For now, however, he is not making a commitment either way.

The Rev. Larry Brown, chairman of the Aiken County Democratic Party, says Moore's potential run could serve to energize and galvanize a group of voters who were crushed after Inez Tenenbaum was defeated by Jim DeMint in the U.S. Senate race.

Moore said Monday he has not made up his mind about a possible run against incumbent Gov. Mark Sanford, but he plans to make his intentions known in the next few weeks. "It will not be months," Moore said when questioned about a possible announcement.

"I have been listening to a lot of people," Moore said from his Clearwater office. "I'm just not ready to make a decision yet."

Moore, 54, has served in Columbia since he was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1979. He moved to the S.C. Senate in 1981 and has been there since. He was returned to office in November, so running for the state's highest elected office would not cost him his Senate seat.

An Aiken County native, Moore has been an outspoken critic of some of Sanford's policies. He even went as far a year ago as to propose raising the state's sales tax in order to adequately fund education. The proposal was shot down in the Senate, but Moore received a lot of statewide press for the effort.

"He is very electable," said Brown, who added Moore could draw support from both Democrats and Republicans.

Brown said, "The governor, I think, has shot himself in the foot with his own party."

Looking at the statewide picture, Brown said he felt Moore would find support from across the state, if he decides to seek the Governor's Mansion.

"I believe he is well respected by both sides of the aisle in this state," Brown said.

Moore has long been sought by party insiders to seek higher office, but he has been reluctant to throw his hat in the ring for chances to run for higher posts.

When long-time Third Congressional Representative Butler Derrick left office in 1993, Moore did enter a crowded field to seek the post. With a total of seven candidates in the field, Moore did not emerge from a party primary run-off to receive the nomination.

The open seat was eventually won by Republican Lindsey Graham, who has since moved on to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of the late Strom Thurmond.

Contact Philip Lord at plord@aikenstandard.com.

Copyright © 2003, The Aiken Standard