2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina

2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Lindsey Graham Bob Conley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,076,150 790,216
Percentage 57.52% 42.25%
Graham:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Conley:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
U.S. senator before election

Lindsey Graham
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Lindsey Graham
Republican

Elections in South Carolina
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State offices
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
Ballot measures
Charleston
Mayoral elections
Columbia
Mayoral elections
Rock Hill
Mayoral elections
  • 2007
  • 2011
  • 2015
  • 2019
  • 2023
Greenville
Mayoral elections
  • 2007
  • 2011
  • 2015
  • 2019
  • 2023

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

Polling

Source Date Graham Witherspoon
Public Policy Polling[3] January 17, 2008 52% 5%

Results

2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 187,736 66.84%
Republican Buddy Witherspoon 93,125 33.16%
Total votes 280,861 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Bob Conley, pilot
  • Michael Cone, attorney

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."[5] He also opposed same-sex marriage.[6]

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.[5][7]

Results

Conley defeated Cone in the primary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.[8]

2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Conley 74,185 50.36%
Democratic Michael Cone 73,127 49.64%
Total votes 147,312 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Bob Conley (D), pilot
  • Lindsey Graham (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Campaign

Conley, who had switched to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party,[10] 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.[11] 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."[12]

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

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[13] Safe R October 23, 2008
CQ Politics[14] Safe R October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[15] Safe R November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics[16] Safe R November 4, 2008

Polling

Poll Source Dates administered Conley Graham
Public Policy Polling[17] July 9–11, 2008 32% 54%
Rasmussen Reports[18] September 18, 2008 41% 50%
Survey USA[19] September 21–22, 2008 40% 54%
Survey USA[20] October 12–13, 2008 40% 56%
Survey USA[21] October 28–29, 2008 39% 58%

Results

General election results[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 1,076,534 57.52% +3.1%
Democratic Bob Conley 790,621 42.25% −1.9%
Write-in 4,276 0.23% +0.1%
Total votes 1,871,431 100.00%
Majority 285,913 15.27%
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. ^ US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham. WBTV 3 News. June 16, 2008. Accessed November 17, 2008
  2. ^ 2008 General election statewide results. South Carolina State Election Commission. Accessed November 17, 2008.
  3. ^ Public Policy Polling
  4. ^ "2008 Republican and Democratic Primary". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 27, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Hunter, Jack (June 18, 2008). "Democrat Bob Conley offers conservatives a real choice in November". Charleston City Paper. Archived from the original on September 3, 2008 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "The Issues". Bob Conley for U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on October 31, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  7. ^ Elonkey. Bob Conley: "The Ron Paul Democrat" Archived September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine June 23, 2008
  8. ^ US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham. WBTV 3 News.
  9. ^ "RECOUNT - 2008 Republican and Democratic Primary". South Carolina State Election Commission. July 1, 2008.
  10. ^ Graham's Dem challenger was SC county GOP official. International Herald Tribune, June 20, 2008. Accessed November 17, 2008
  11. ^ Graham easily wins second term. The State, November 5, 2008. Accessed November 17, 2008.
  12. ^ Republican Graham aims to turn aside Dem challenge | SCNOW
  13. ^ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  15. ^ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  17. ^ Public Policy Polling
  18. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  19. ^ Survey USA
  20. ^ Survey USA
  21. ^ Survey USA
  22. ^ "2008 General Election". South Caroline State Election Commission. June 1, 2009.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.