Why is SC's Republican governor praising the Obama candidacy?

. . . he supported McCain in 2000* . . .

(CNN) – The Republican governor of South Carolina wrote an op-ed in the state’s largest paper Friday in which he spoke admiringly of Democrat Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, and urged voters to think about the significance of the Illinois senator’s White House run as they make their presidential picks.

Mark Sanford said he wouldn’t be voting for Obama because of their differing policy views. “However,” he added, “as the presidential campaign trail now makes its turn toward this state, and as South Carolinians make their final decisions on whom to vote for, it’s worth pausing to take notice of something important that the Obama candidacy means for our corner of America.

“…In the Obama candidacy, there is a potentially history-making quality that we should reflect on. It is one that is especially relevant on the sensitive topic of race — because South Carolina and the South as a whole bear a heavier historical burden than the rest of our country on that front,” he added.

He said that Obama was not running on the basis of his race, and that no one should make their decision one way or the other because of it. “Nonetheless, what is happening in the initial success of his candidacy should not escape us. Within many of our own lifetimes, a man who looked like Barack Obama had a difficult time even using the public restrooms in our state.

“What is happening may well say a lot about America, and I do think as an early primary state we should earnestly shoulder our responsibility in determining how this part of history is ultimately written.”


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/11/scs-republican-governor-praises-obama-candidacy/

He thinks Obama is gonna win, and wants to be on the winning side. After the vote he will give people the 'I told ya so' speech.

and his nomination by the Democrats will help the Republicans pull victory from the jaws of defeat.

It can be played either way. :shrug:

As a rule, though, I don't trust Republican politicians nor take what they say at face value.

:hide:

I expect things to get down and nasty in the Repugnican primary before its all said and done. I saw Sanford the other day and when asked who he was endorsing he couldn't change the topic fast enough. So instead of focusing on the messy GOOP primary, he's throwing light on the other side...hoping to stir up shit there.

It appears the game here...and the corporate media is going for the ride...is to create a narrative of an Obama/Clinton fight over the black vote. Polls I saw had Senator Clinton doing well with blacks in the state, but that was prior to Iowa and New Hampshire and I'm sure we're gonna see a lot of undecideds in this primary (many who will go unpolled again as well)

Fall into lock step, Governor!

The status quo is horrified of an Edwards Presidency, so the best way to prevent South Carolina from voting for him is to endorse his opponent.

It takes something pretty powerful for a Republican to endorse anyone or anything that isn't Republican. Follow the money, people. Don't let the media and the powers that be elect our next President for us. Again.

Edwards is the one to bring about real change. He's the only one not beholden to the monied interests of big business. How can the others bring about change when they owe the status quo so much? Think about it.

to grow the GOP.

Maybe he's being *gasp* sincere!

Republicans?

:rofl:

an opportunity to grab disaffected Democrats.Our party expertise
is disaffecting and driving people out of our party.

Christians won't like it. That's the way it is.

sure aren't trolling for African American votes in my neck of the woods, and we're a tad more progressive than our neighbors two miles to the south in South Carolina.

You've never seen his tan. (Spray on, he's darker than Obama.)

The only thing he's sincere about is his desire not to have to give up his office and to be another Strom Thurmond. As for unity...sure. A one party system would be his biggest goal. As long as it's Republican.

Read my otherf posts.

I live in North Charleston. Have lived in SC solely for the last 35 years and off and on for 10 years before that.

You really need to live here to know what's going on.

A substantial number of SC voters are African American. He needs their votes and looks good by praising Obama.

and court them heavily. Sure they do.

To their credit, most African Americans in the South are no more likely to vote for a Republican than I am.

If you were correct about Sanford's motives, he would be barking up the wrong tree. And Sanford isn't that dumb.

The repukes in the south have been trying- on a local/state level- to get AA voters. There have been some articles about it. It's not something the party does on a national level, but it's different on the local and state level.

especially when it is coming out of the mouth of a Republican.

Voters. Do I have to draw a picture.

appeal to disaffected white voters, he would be praising Huckabee and throwing his weight behind him.

If you're going to draw a picture, you'd better come down here and draw it from life.

do not fit the Arch Conservative Mantle.
Nor will they attack him directly. Fundamentalist base is here.
Huckabee is the GOP "bad case of indigestion" candidate. "What
are we going to do with him??

Here is the Problem. SC is a pretty good sized state.
It is 40% AfricanAmerican and 60% Causasian.

Different Percentages have been used to describe the Dem Party in SC.

If the party is 50% African American that means there are 50% White voters

When we read post on the Net, when we watch TV. The impression
is left at every place that SC must be 100% African American.

There is no discussion of the Whete Americans.

Sensitivity goes both dirctions.

he would Obama.

Huckabee is a threat to the Republican establishment he represents.

Puffing up Obama does serve his purposes, however. A Democratic ticket headed by Obama would have little chance of carrying South Carolina in the general election and just might pull the whole ticket down, endangering others on it.

...against any charges of racism, EVAR.

afro American or Caucasion?

And whose promising him what ?

:mad: