SOUTH CAROLINA 8 Electoral Votes
Population 
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina State Election Commission)
Total Population, July 2004 est. 4,198,068
Total Registration, Nov. 2004  2,315,182
Reg. by Race: White 1,655,816   Nonwhite 659,366
South Carolina has: 46 counties.
Largest counties: Greenville, Charleston, Richland, Spartanburg, Lexington.

Government
Governor: Mark Sanford (R) elected in 2002.
State Legislature: South Carolina General Assembly  House: 124 seats   Senate: 46 seats
Local: Cities and Towns, Counties NACO Counties
U.S. House: 4R, 2D - 1. H.Brown (R) | 2. J.Wilson (R) | 3. J.G.Barrett (R) | 4. J.DeMint (R) | 5. J. Spratt (D) | 6. J.Clyburn (D).
U.S. Senate: Lindsey Graham (R) elected in 2002, Fritz Hollings (D) did not seek re-election in 2004.
In the race to succeed Sen. Hollings, Rep. Jim DeMint (R) prevailed with 857,167 votes to 704,384 votes for Democrat Inez Tenenbaum and 35,670 votes for others (53.67% to 44.10% and 2.23%).  Bob Inglis (R) easily won in the open 4th CD.

The Palmetto State

 State of South Carolina
State Election Commission

Constitution Party of SC
Natural Law Party of SC
Reform Party of SC
SC Democratic Party
SC Libertarian Party
SC Republican Party
United Citizens Party (Grn)

The State (Columbia)
Post and Courier (C'ston)
News Media
Media (Newsp.)
Media (TV)

Politics1-SC

General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Peroutka/Baldwin (Const.)
5,317
(0.32)
Brown/Hebert (Un.Cit.)
2,124
(0.13)
Nader/Camejo (Indep.Pty) 5,520 (0.34)
Cobb/LaMarche (Grn.)
1,488
(0.09)
+Bush/Cheney (Rep.)
937,974
(57.98)
Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.)
 3,608
(0.22)
Kerry/Edwards (Dem.)
661,699
(40.90)
Total........1,617,730
 
Total Voting: 1,631,148
2004 Overview
Bush won with a plurality of 276,275 votes (17.08 percentage points).  Bush won 31 counties to 15 for Kerry.

 
Past Results
1996
Dole (Rep.).............573,458
(49.79)
Clinton (Dem.)........506,283
(43.96)
Perot (Ref./Pat.).......64,386 
(5.59)
Others (3)..................7,562
(0.66)
Total........1,151,689

1992
Bush (Rep.).............577,507
(48.02)
Clinton (Dem.)........497,514
(39.88)
Perot (Petition)......138,872 
(11.55)
Others (3)..................6,634
(0.55)
Total........1,202,527

2000
Gore/Lieberman (Dem.)
565,561
(40.90)
Phillips/Frazier (Const.)
1,682
(0.12)
Nader/LaDuke (Un.Cit.)
20,200
(1.46)
Buchanan/Foster (Ref.)
3,519
(0.25)
Hagelin/Goldhaber (NLP)
942
(0.07)
+Bush/Cheney (Rep.)
785,937
(56.84)
Browne/Olivier (Lib.)
4,876
(0.35)
Total........1,382,717
2000 Overview
South Carolina, the scene of such great activity during the Republican presidential primary in February, saw a very quite campaign on the presidential level in the fall.  None of the principals visited.  Bush carried the Palmetto State with a comfortable plurality of 220,307 votes (15.94 percentage points).  Bush won 31 counties to 15 for Gore.  Heath Thompson ran Republicans' Victory 2000 effort; Remle Beard was Gore-Lieberman state director.  One issue on the ballot that did generate considerable debate was Amendment 1 to lift a ban on lotteries; it passed. 

2004 Democratic Presidential Primary --Tuesday, February 3, 2004
2001 Code of Laws, Title 7, Chapter 11-Designation and Nomination of Candidates states "the state committee of the party shall set the date and the hours that the polls will be open for the presidential primary election and the filing requirements."

Democrats
In its Feb. 12, 2002 meeting, the executive council of the South Carolina Democratic Party decided to hold the primary on Feb. 3, 2004.  The primary was run by the state party, which had to man about 1,600 polling places.  Dick Harpootlian, then chair of the SCDP, estimated the cost to run the primary at between $400,000 and $500,000.

Overview  CLARK  DEAN  EDWARDS KERRY  KUCINICH  LIEBERMAN  SHARPTON
former: GEPHARDT  MOSELEY BRAUN   GRAHAM

Qualifying: File with the SCDP between December 19, 2003 (9:00 a.m.) and January 2, 2004 (5:00 p.m.).  Filing fee of $2,500 is required, or "submit a petition containing the names of no fewer than 3,000 registered voters in South Carolina who consider themselves Democrats."

Participation: "Open to all voters who wish to participate as Democrats."  Voters were to have signed the following statement: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a registered voter of this precinct, I consider myself to be a Democrat, and I have not participated in the 2004 Presidential nominating process of any other political party."  However, considerable controversy sprang up about this oath and SCDP Chairman Joe Erwin ultimately rescinded it less than two days before the vote.  A voter must have been registered for 30 days prior to the primary.
 
   
ballot

"South Carolina is a primary/convention state." 

The February 3 primary is the first determining step. 

County conventions occur March 6-20. 

Delegates (except the 9 automatic unpledged) are selected at the State Convention in Columbia on May 1.

1,955 of 2,092 precincts reporting (93.5%).
Total Vote
Percent
Carol Moseley Braun w
567
0.2%
Wesley Clark
19,999
7.2%
Howard Dean
13,029
4.7%
John Edwards
125,944
45.3%
Dick Gephardt w
786
0.3%
John Kerry
82,668
29.8%
Dennis Kucinich
1,277
0.5%
Joe Lieberman
6,712
2.4%
Al Sharpton
26,755
9.6%
Total
277,737 
w= Candidate withdrew before primary but was on ballot.
55 Delegates (45 Pledged, 10 Unpledged)
 
 

SCDP: Delegate Selection Plan

Republicans
In May 2003 the South Carolina Republican Party State Executive Committee decided to endorse President Bush and not hold a primary (resolution).
Congressional district delegates elected by congressional district caucuses held Jan.-Feb. 2004.
At-large delegates elected by the state convention March 27, 2004.
46 Delegates: 18 CD, 28 AL

2000 page>>

Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.