"The New York money doesn't give a damn"

New York millionaire Howie Rich's success in South Carolina's Republican primaries likely means that his influence will grow, not end, in that state, according to one newspaper. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal asked on June 30, "Think you've heard the last of 'out-of-state special interests?' No chance."

It quoted Governor Mark Sanford's spokesman saying that with each election, Sanford has gotten closer to his goals. Because his success was fueled with out-of-state funds from Howie Rich through interest groups, it's just as fair to say that Rich has gotten closer to his goals, too. This new influence, however, seems to be "splitting the party."

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer... says each year, Sanford gets closer to the "magic number" of legislators needed to sustain vetoes and push legislation forward.
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But conservatives are divided on school choice and school consolidation, issues close to Sanford's heart.
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Meanwhile, several groups supporting school choice poured tens of thousands of dollars into Spartanburg legislative races this year - though they spent more time talking about spending and other issues.

Those groups, like South Carolinians for Responsible Government, are tied to New York millionaire Howard Rich. The S.C. Club for Growth, Conservatives in Action and ReformSC are in the same boat.

"Two years ago, they might have scored a victory or two. This time, they really picked up some seats," [retired House Speaker Pro Tem Doug] Smith said. "I guess they've got the wind behind their sails right now. Any time that happens, they're not just going to drop the sail. They're going to keep the boat moving. Good, bad, right or wrong."

Many candidates on the receiving end of SCRG attacks - and even a few who benefited from them - pledged to support laws that would require such groups to disclose their financial information the same as other entities that affect elections. Sawyer said the governor's office welcomes a transparency bill, as long as it is across the board and part of a larger ethics reform package.

In the meantime, many of the same attacks used against groups like SCRG in the primary season will be repeated this fall.

"Our effort goes to our candidates and maintaining the influence of Spartanburg County in the state Legislature, which the Republicans wiped out this time," [Democratic Party chairman Glenn] Lindman said. "And a lot of those people were good people - someone you could work with regardless of what side of the aisle they were on. We gave up on a tremendous amount of influence in the primary. Thankfully, it was mostly on the Republican side. But it's still bad for the county. The New York money doesn't give a damn about Spartanburg's influence. And if South Carolina's for sale, then Mark Sanford is the broker in charge."
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Sawyer offered this piece of advice: "Just don't forget who put you there and don't forget why you're there."

Elections key to Spartanburg influence - Sanford's agenda: Republican victories in fall would bolster governor's support; school choice a vital issue
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 30, 2008

In that article, the retired House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith warned that what Rich's influence had accomplished in his county would likely be repeated elsewhere in the state.

"That means that some areas of the state might be behind us in timing, that the exact same thing can happen there that happened in Spartanburg," he said. "It's coming."