2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina explained

Election Name:2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina
Country:South Carolina
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 United States Senate election in South Carolina
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina
Next Year:2014
Election Date:November 4, 2008
Image1:File:Lindsey Graham, Official Portrait 2006 (cropped).jpg
Image1 Size:x150px
Nominee1:Lindsey Graham
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,076,150
Percentage1:57.52%
Image2 Size:x110px
Nominee2:Bob Conley
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:790,216
Percentage2:42.25%
Map Size:230px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Lindsey Graham
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Lindsey Graham
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham won election to a second term.[1] [2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Conley, a conservative Democrat, supported ending illegal immigration, "protecting American workers," bringing American troops home from the Iraq War, increasing veterans' benefits, reducing American dependence on foreign oil, tougher regulations on Wall Street (bringing back Glass-Steagall), ending Wall Street bailouts, repealing the Patriot Act, "cutting spending," and "fidelity to the Constitution."[4] He also opposed same-sex marriage.[5]

Michael Cone, Conley's primary opponent, criticized Conley for being too conservative, that "We've nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary." Conley was a Republican but left the party due to frustration over immigration, trade, and the Iraq War. Some compared him to Republican Congressman Ron Paul, as Conley supported Paul in his presidential campaign.[4] [6]

Results

Conley defeated Cone in the primary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.[7]

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Conley, who had switched to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party,[8] was opposed by much of the Democratic establishment because of his controversial positions such as his vocal opposition to immigration reform and same-sex marriage and his support of Ron Paul's presidential bid. A number of prominent Democratic figures in the state, including U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn, supported Lindsey Graham over Conley in the general election.[9] Political scientist Bill Moore claimed "The bottom line is, by not paying attention to this race, they ended up embarrassed by what has transpired: a Republican getting the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate and a Republican who comes across as even more conservative than Lindsey Graham."

Graham had $3.8 million. In fact, he spent more time on the campaign trail for John McCain than he has defending his own seat. Conley only raised $23,628 during the campaign. Conley was so unknown that even Graham admitted "Almost no one knows my opponent. The Democrats really didn't field a — make a serious challenge — in terms of trying to find an opponent for me."[10]

Despite Conley's landslide defeat, he is the last Democrat to carry McCormick County in a Senate election as of 2023.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[11] October 23, 2008
align=left CQ Politics[12] October 31, 2008
align=left Rothenberg Political Report[13] November 2, 2008
align=left Real Clear Politics[14] November 4, 2008

Polling

Poll SourceDates administeredConleyGraham
Public Policy Polling[15] July 9–11, 200832%54%
Rasmussen Reports[16] September 18, 200841%50%
Survey USA[17] September 21–22, 200840%54%
Survey USA[18] October 12–13, 200840%56%
Survey USA[19] October 28–29, 200839%58%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8500031 US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham.
  2. http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/8562/13685/en/summary.html 2008 General election statewide results.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20080918145243/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_SC_Release_011708.pdf Public Policy Polling
  4. Web site: Hunter. Jack. June 18, 2008. Democrat Bob Conley offers conservatives a real choice in November. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080903103358/http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A47105. September 3, 2008. Charleston City Paper. Wayback Machine.
  5. Web site: The Issues. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081031225538/http://aimhighwithbob.com/?page_id=2. October 31, 2008. November 29, 2008. Bob Conley for U.S. Senate. mdy-all.
  6. Elonkey. Bob Conley: "The Ron Paul Democrat" June 23, 2008
  7. http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8500031 US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham. WBTV 3 News.
  8. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/20/america/Graham-Challenger.php Graham's Dem challenger was SC county GOP official.
  9. http://www.thestate.com/localelections/story/579119.html Graham easily wins second term.
  10. http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/politics/south_carolina/article/republican_graham_aims_to_turn_aside_dem_challenge/17537/ Republican Graham aims to turn aside Dem challenge | SCNOW
  11. Web site: 2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 . The Cook Political Report . April 1, 2021.
  12. http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate
  13. Web site: 2008 Senate ratings . Inside Elections . April 1, 2021.
  14. Web site: 2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results . Real Clear Politics . August 31, 2021.
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080904060117/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_SC_715.pdf Public Policy Polling
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20080923162022/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/south_carolina/election_2008_south_carolina_senate Rasmussen Reports
  17. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=eadbaab5-cffc-4f78-8947-b6a644d3eb03 Survey USA
  18. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=af366778-2141-4274-8033-3e7b70c583bf/ Survey USA
  19. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7283ffa7-828d-4345-b44c-7e6a908196cc/ Survey USA