ISSUE: The November election

OUR VIEW: Despite interest in Democrats, GOP will be hard to derail in S.C.

Democrats have been seeing a surge in interest nationwide from the party's high-profile presidential race. In South Carolina, the presidential primaries in January gave reason to believe Democrats may capture some votes in November that customarily go to Republicans.

More than 532,000 people voted in the Democratic primary, setting an all-time record and besting the party's 2004 primary total by 240,000 votes. The Democratic turnout was 87,000 more than in the Republican primary vote a week before. Across the state, 444,183 votes were cast in the Republican primary, down by more than 100,000 votes from the 2004 Republican primary.

U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn and others have forecast the state will be in play in November for the Democratic presidential nominee, this despite a history that shows no Democrat getting South Carolina's electoral votes since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Don't bet on it. And certainly don't bet on Democrats making inroads elsewhere in a state with only one statewide Democratic officeholder. While Democrats have made headlines, Republicans here have been building a war chest to wage political battle in the November campaign.

A report by the conservative Web site The Palmetto Scoop (www.palmettoscoop.com) shows the S.C. GOP has $727,256 on hand compared to an estimated $228,863 for state Democrats.

"That half-million dollar lead will certainly help bolster Republican efforts and guarantee the party's candidates major success this year. And it likely offsets the theory that massive Democrat turnout in response to the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama could end the Republican's majority rule in South Carolina," according to The Palmetto Scoop.

"We will have the resources needed to carry our state for the Republican presidential nominee, re-elect Republicans to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, expand our conservative foothold at the General Assembly and elect Republicans to local offices across South Carolina," S.C. GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said for the report. "We will also have the resources needed to counter the radical forces of liberal special interest groups that attempt to influence South Carolina elections this year on behalf of national Democrats."

And in Statehouse races, the numbers are even more in favor of the GOP, The Palmetto Scoop says.

Senate Republicans reported nearly $3 million in cash on hand, while Democrats have less than a third that amount. The Senate Republican Caucus campaign account also noted having $308,498. The Senate Democratic Caucus account totals $43,360.

House Republicans enjoy a surplus too. Their $2,398,281 cash on hand gives them more than a $2 million advantage over House Democrats. The House caucus campaign accounts are a little closer than in the Senate, with $304,089 for Republicans and $148,220 for Democrats.

The report also notes Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has millions available for his re-election campaign. "So best of luck to Democrats this November, because they're really going to need it."

As optimistic as Democrats can be about interest in the national race, and as cautious as Republicans should be about their advantage, there remains solid reasons to believe the GOP will carry the day in November. Campaign finance is alone a big advantage.

As The Palmetto Scoop notes: "It's a good time to be a Republican candidate in South Carolina."

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