2010 United States Senate election in South Carolina

Democratic primary

On June 8, 2010, Alvin Greene won the South Carolina Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, receiving 100,362 (59%) votes out of 170,215 votes cast; 69,853 (41%) went to Vic Rawl. Greene's victory over Rawl, a Charleston County councilmember and former state legislator, was described as an upset.

Candidates

• Alvin Greene, U.S. Army veteran
• Vic Rawl, Charleston County Council member and former state legislator

Results

| | | | ]]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim DeMint, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Susan McDonald Gaddy

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jim DeMint (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Alvin Greene (Democratic), U.S. Army veteran
• Tom Clements (Green), environmental activist and Southeast Director Friends of the Earth

Campaign

Controversies surrounded the Democratic nominee, Alvin Greene. At the time of his Senate campaign, Greene was unemployed and living with and caring for his father in Manning, South Carolina. Greene's primary election win and his margin of victory surprised pundits. As of the primary, he had held no public campaign events, raised no money, and did not have a campaign website.

U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn recommended Greene drop out of the race or face a federal investigation into his candidacy, even as Greene faced a felony obscenity charge in Richland County from November 2009. Clyburn said, "There were some real shenanigans going on in the South Carolina primary. I don't know if he was a Republican plant; he was someone's plant." Political blog FiveThirtyEight's Tom Schaller suggested three possibilities: a legitimate vote, the vote was rigged, or the vote-counting software was corrupted. Schaller ruled out the possibility of Republican infiltration, similar to Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" in 2008.

In response to an official protest filed by Vic Rawl, who was defeated by Greene in the Democratic primary, the executive committee of the South Carolina Democratic Party conducted a formal hearing on June 17, 2010, to assess the legitimacy of the primary election results. Greene neither attended nor sent a representative to the hearing. finding insufficient evidence of impropriety to disturb the primary election result.

At multiple points during the campaign, the South Carolina Democratic Party called for Greene to withdraw his candidacy. In August 2010, South Carolina Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Fowler asserted that the criminal charges against Greene would make it impossible for him to run a statewide campaign.

Green Party challenger Tom Clements won the endorsement of the Greater Columbia Central Labor Council of the South Carolina AFL-CIO, a coalition of labor unions. The Clements campaign received regional media coverage. A Winthrop University poll conducted between October 5 and 10, 741 likely South Carolina voters found Clements running second with 12.2% of the vote against 11.2% for Greene and 58.3% for incumbent Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. An October 13 article in the Columbia Free Times noted that prominent Democrats were privately donating money to the Clements campaign. According to the FEC, as of September 30, Clements for Senate had raised $34,334. DeMint had raised in excess of $3 million, while Greene reported no fundraising activities.

Write-in candidates also joined the race, including the Reverend Mazie Ferguson, Mauldin High School teacher Greg Snoad, Michael C Neumann, and chef Nathalie Dupree. Mazie Ferguson was endorsed by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn in late August; Clyburn said he would not vote for Greene due to his felony indictment.

Greene has been described as an enigmatic figure in American politics. He is known for his "strange, well-documented behavior on the campaign trail". A study by the Pew Research Center released in late July 2010 found that Greene's campaign had received the most media attention of all of the 2010 political campaigns.

The Republican candidate, incumbent Senator Jim DeMint, largely campaigned outside South Carolina for Republican Senate candidates identified with the Tea Party. Diverse media outlets frequently referred to DeMint as a party "kingmaker" for supporting successful primary challengers to mainstream Republican candidates.

At an October 3 appearance before a rally at Spartanburg North Baptist Church, DeMint reminded the audience of his 2004 comments that gay men and sexually active single women should be prohibited from teaching in public schools. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported:

"(When I said those things,) no one came to my defense," he said. "But everyone would come to me and whisper that I shouldn't back down. They don't want government purging their rights and their freedom to religion."}}

The remarks attracted national media attention, largely critical. DeMint defended the statements, saying that local school boards should decide the issue. Challenger Tom Clements condemned DeMint's stance in a subsequent interview with the Herald-Journal:

Endorsements

Organization endorsements

Tom Clements:

• Sierra Club
• Columbia Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
• Friends of the Earth Action
• South Carolina Latino Political Action Committee

Jim DeMint

• National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund
• Citizens for a Sound Economy
• Americans For Legal Immigration

Newspaper endorsements

Tom Clements:

• Rock Hill Herald

Jim DeMint:

• Florence Morning News
• Charleston Post and Courier

Predictions

Polling

Fundraising

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Calhoun (largest town: St. Matthews)
• Clarendon (Largest city: Manning)
• Sumter (Largest city: Sumter)
• Richland (Largest city: Columbia)
• Chesterfield (Largest city: Cheraw)
• Colleton (Largest city: Walterboro)
• Darlington (Largest city: Hartsville)
• Charleston (largest town: Charleston)
• Chester (largest town: Chester)
• McCormick (largest town: McCormick)
• Dillon (Largest city: Dillon)

References

References

1. (November 2, 2010). "Jim DeMint Defeats Alvin Greene In South Carolina Senate Race". Huffingtonpost.com.
2. Mark Memmott. (December 6, 2012). "Sen. Jim DeMint Leaving Congress To Run Heritage Foundation". NPR.
3. South Carolina State Election Commission. [http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/27900/en/summary.html Official election results. Note: scroll down or page through the list to find the results for the Democratic Senate primary.] ''US Senate Results (Dem).'' June 14, 2010.
4. (June 15, 2010). "Senate candidate Vic Rawl asks for primary redo".
5. Catanese, David. "Rawl may protest unlikely loss to Greene".
6. (March 26, 2015). "Greene's Primary Opponent Calls for Investigation of Election Results".
7. "SC - Election Results".
8. "SC - Election Results".
9. [http://www.scvotes.org/files/2010%20Convention%20Party%20Candidates.pdf Green, Libertarian, Working Families, Labor, Constitution, United Citizens, Independence] {{Webarchive. link. (June 8, 2010 - List of candidates who have filed with these parties. Tom Clements was nominated May 1 during the South Carolina Green Party Convention in Columbia. Candidates were nominated by convention and did not appear on Republican or Democratic primary ballots.)
10. Wolfe, Wes. http://www.wolfereports.com/tag/alvin-greene/ Strange happenings in the Dem senatorial primary. {{webarchive. link. (June 10, 2010 ''Wolfe Reports.'' May 21, 2010.)
11. Hutchins, Corey. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100612145146/http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064017974&ShowArticle_ID=11011905102861700 A Phantom Candidate for U.S. Senate?] ''Free Times.'' Issue #23.20 :: May 19, 2010 – May 25, 2010
12. Catanese, David. (June 11, 2010). "Experts review S.C. Senate ballots". Politico.Com.
13. (June 11, 2010). "The curious case of Alvin Greene, surprise Senate candidate". CSMonitor.com.
14. Schaller, Tom. "Politics Done Right: SC Democratic Primary Getting Weirder By The Hour". FiveThirtyEight.
15. Kinnard, Meg (June 17, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100620012124/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNyH1XTKf1Adc_-fGBAefXf8YYEQD9GD3ODO0 "SC Dems hearing protest over US Senate primary"], The Associated Press. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
16. O'Donnell, Kelly (June 16, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100619103408/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/16/4517878-sc-dems-to-hold-hearing-on-greene-tomorrow "SC Dems to hold hearing on Greene tomorrow"], [[MSNBC]].com. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
17. "Green light for Alvin Greene's senate run". The Washington Post.
18. Washington, Wayne (June 18, 2010) [http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/17/1337480/will-democrats-overturn-us-senate.html "Democrats uphold Greene’s nomination for Senate"] {{webarchive. link. (June 19, 2010 , The State.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010.)
19. (June 2024)
20. Toeplitz, Shira (June 18, 2010) [https://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/sc-dems-reject-rawl-appeal-038704 "S.C. Dems reject Rawl appeal"], ''[[Politico (newspaper). Politico]]''. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
21. Siegel, Elyse. (August 16, 2010). "Alvin Greene Howls After Obscenity Indictment Raised In Interview (VIDEO)".
22. SC Black News Staff Writer. (July 15, 2010). "Unions Endorse US Senate Green Party Candidate Tom Clements". SCBlacknews.com.
23. [http://www.columbiacitypaper.com/2010/10/06/and-in-the-third-corner ''And in the Third Corner…An interview with Tom Clements, Green Party Candidate for U.S. Senate''] {{Webarchive. link. (October 11, 2010 . By Darien Cavanaugh. Columbia City Paper. October 6, 2010.)
24. link. (March 7, 2012 Winthrop Poll, October 13, 2010)
25. [http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/wupoll/ResultsOct2010WinthropPollOnline.pdf Winthrop Poll Shows Haley Ahead and Other Opinions by S.C. Voters] Winthrop Poll Questions and Answers. Page 2. October 13, 2010
26. Corey Hutchins. (October 13, 2010). "Democrats Step Out for Clements — Quietly". Columbia Free Times.
27. (April 2019)
28. Gilbert, James. (August 9, 2010). "Write-In Candidate to Challenge DeMint, Greene, Clements". WTLX.com.
29. (September 6, 2010). "New Candidate in South Carolina Race?". CNN.com.
30. WYFF4.com. (September 6, 2010). "Gray Court Man Jumps Into Senate Race". wyff4.com.
31. Mauldin High School. "Welcome to Mauldin High School".
32. Seelye, Katharine Q.. (September 30, 2010). "Nathalie Dupree to Jump Into South Carolina Senate Race - NYTimes.com". Thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com.
33. (August 25, 2010). "Clyburn won't vote for Dem nominee in Senate race".
34. SEELYE, KATHARINE Q.. (July 10, 2010). "Enigmatic Jobless Man Prepares Senate Campaign". [[The New York Times]].
35. Kinnard, Meg. (July 12, 2010). "Alvin Greene, Enigmatic South Carolina Senate Candidate, To Make First Public Speech". [[Huffington Post]].
36. Weiner, Juli. (July 29, 2010). "Alvin Greene Documentarians Have Their Work Cut Out for Them".
37. Davis, Susan. (July 26, 2010). "Alvin Greene Gets Most Media Attention - Washington Wire - WSJ".
38. link. (October 19, 2010 . By David M. Drucker, CQ-Roll Call. CQ POLITICS NEWS. October 18, 2010 – 1:20 p.m.)
39. [http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/09/19/1702385/call-him-the-kingmaker.html Jim DeMint: Call him the kingmaker. S.C.'s DeMint a star on the rise]. By James Rosen. McClatchy Newspapers, Washington Bureau. Sunday, September 19, 2010.
40. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100919012107/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2010/db20100916_472765.htm DeMint Vaults From Back Bench to Republican Kingmaker: While Sarah Palin gets most of the attention for having helped numerous unlikely candidates win Republican primaries this year, DeMint emerged as an even bigger force]. By Lisa Lerer. Bloomberg News. SPECIAL REPORT September 16, 2010, 4:36PM EST.
41. [http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05/25/jim-demint-conservative-kingmaker-or-inside-the-beltway-inter Jim DeMint: Conservative 'Kingmaker' or Inside-the-Beltway Interloper?] {{Webarchive. link. (May 29, 2010 Matt Lewis, Columnist. Politics Daily. May 25, 2010.)
42. link. (December 4, 2010 . WISTV. Associated Press. October 4, 2004.)
43. [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6267835 Meet The Press. Transcript for October 17, 2004]. Guests: Ken Mehlman, Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Manager, Bob Shrum, Kerry-Edwards '04 Campaign Chief Strategist, Rep. Jim DeMint, (R-S.C.), Republican Senate Candidate, Inez Tenenbaum, South Carolina State Superintendent of Education, Democratic Senate Candidate.
44. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/02/demint-gays-unmarried-pregnant-women-teachers_n_748131.html Sen. Jim DeMint: Gays And Unmarried, Pregnant Women Should Not Teach Public School]. Amanda Turkel. Huffington Post. October 2, 2010.
45. [http://www.goupstate.com/article/20101002/ARTICLES/10021004/1002/SPORTS04?p=2&tc=pg DeMint addresses conservative issues at Spartanburg church rally]. By Lynne P. Shackleford. Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 3:15 a.m.
46. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-demint-criticized-over-comments-on-gay-and-sexually-active-teachers/ Jim DeMint Criticized Over Comments on Gay and Sexually Active Teachers]. By Brian Montopoli. CBS News, Political Hotsheet. October 5, 2010 2:04 PM.
47. [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/05/DeMint-defends-no-gay-teachers-comment/UPI-50801286300806 DeMint defends 'no gay teachers']. UPI. Published: October 5, 2010 at 1:46 PM
48. [http://www.goupstate.com/article/20101005/ARTICLES/10051011/1083/ARTICLES Clements criticizes DeMint on gay teacher issue: Opponent for Senate blasts incumbent for stance on who is fit to teach]. By Jason Spencer. Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 3:15 a.m.
49. "Endorsements - Politics". Sierra Club.
50. (July 15, 2010). "Unions Endorse US Senate Green Party Candidate Tom Clements". Scblacknews.com.
51. "FoE Action". Action.foe.org.
52. (September 24, 2010). "National Rifle Association {{!}} Political Victory Fund {{!}} NRA-PVF Endorses Jim DeMint for U.S. Senate in South Carolina". Nrapvf.org.
53. Illegal Immigration: Americans Fighting Back. "ALIPAC - ALIPAC 2010 Endorsements for US Congress and Senate". Alipac.us.
54. "Rock Hill Herald: Tom Clements for US Senate: Green Party candidate Tom Clements offers a viable alternative in this race. October 30, 2010". Heraldonline.com.
55. "OPINION: Spratt, Clyburn, DeMint deserve reelection". SCNOW.
56. (October 29, 2010). "Re-elect fiscal hawk DeMint {{!}} The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment". Postandcourier.com.
57. "Senate". [[Cook Political Report]].
58. "Senate Ratings". [[Rothenberg Political Report]].
59. "Battle for the Senate". [[RealClearPolitics]].
60. "2010 Senate Ratings". [[Sabato's Crystal Ball]].
61. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". [[CQ Politics]].
62. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/toplines/toplines_south_carolina_senate_june_10_2010 Rasmussen Reports]
63. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/election_2010_south_carolina_senate Rasmussen Reports]
64. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/toplines/toplines_south_carolina_senate_august_25_2010 Rasmussen Reports]
65. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/toplines/toplines_south_carolina_senate_september_22_2010 Rasmussen Reports]
66. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/toplines/toplines_south_carolina_senate_september_22_2010 Crantford & Associates]
67. [http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/wupoll/ResultsOct2010WinthropPollOnline.pdf Winthrop University]
68. "Catherine H".
69. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/south_carolina/questions_south_carolina_senate_october_19_2010 Rasmussen Reports]
70. (July 2018). "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for South Carolina". fec.gov.