Inglis seeking to gain votes with late tour

Web posted October 29, 1998

By Pat Willis
South Carolina Bureau

GRANITEVILLE -- The bright-red recreational vehicle touting Bob Inglis for U.S. Senate rolled up to Napier's Hardware in Graniteville on Wednesday morning, beginning the Republican congressman's ``Expect More Tour'' of Horse Creek Valley.

NEWS

•Nasty campaign •Organized gambling

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•Gov. candidates travel •Inglis donor wants money back •Voter turnout •Hollings visits Aiken •Registration swells •Beasley visits Aiken •GOP to control House •Lt. governor's race •Education issues in backseat •GOP wants control •Beasley targeted •Hodges & lottery •Hollings, Inglis debate •Spence challenger •Hodges Aiken visit •Poker ad lawsuit •Eckstrom, Tennenbaum

When the candidate for Fritz Hollings' job stepped out, Phil Napier, a Republican candidate for Aiken County Council, was waiting for him with outstretched hand.

Mr. Napier, a newcomer to elective politics, is campaigning for office against another political newcomer, Democrat Dale Stephens, but Mr. Inglis must do battle against a veteran campaigner with a reputation for turning elections around.

Mr. Inglis is banking on his Expect More Tour to push him out in front despite stagnant polls that indicate the waning days of the race will be a neck-and-neck sprint to the finish line.

On a short detour to a rally in Columbia, the Congressman was taking his drive for the U.S. Senate from one end of Horse Creek Valley to the other, winding up for lunch at Al's Family Restaurant in North Augusta.

Along the way, he stopped to emphasize that South Carolina should ``expect more civility'' from a senator than it has received from Mr. Hollings.

He claims that the senator has ``treated the people of South Carolina the way he has treated me,'' and he has an endorsement from the Home Builders Association of South Carolina as evidence.

James Brannock, executive vice president of the association, says ``it is common for Hollings to curse South Carolina home builders, mock our position, or make fun of our national leaders.''

Not true, says Mr. Hollings' spokesman Robert Gibbs, calling this accusation ``a campaign ploy by a candidate who's not getting anywhere in the polls.''

Mr. Gibbs notes that Mr. Hollings meets with several hundred groups from South Carolina each year and is happy to listen to their concerns.

``It is a shame Inglis is getting the builders to stoop to his level of campaigning,'' Mr. Gibbs said.

Mr. Inglis was greeted by Aiken County Council Chairman Ronnie Young and accompanied by Aiken City Council member Skipper Perry on the local leg of his tour.

Pat Willis can be reached at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.