Gov. David Beasley shakes hands with supporters as others wait their turn to wish the governor well while he was campaigning in Aiken on Thursday. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

Beasley works strongholds

Gambling is at issue Beasley works strongholds Governor says election can't be taken for granted; urges Republicans to get out, vote to avoid defeat

Web posted October 30, 1998

By Margaret N. O'Shea
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- Any day that Gov. David Beasley is feeling down about a tight and ugly race, he need only drop by Aiken.

After an hour Thursday in this Republican stronghold, where 200 cheering supporters rallied in The Alley behind the Municipal Center, the governor said he's been worried that a campaign awash with gambling money might float Democrats back into power and drown the state in corruption.

``We're running scared,'' he said, ``But we're running hard, and we're going to win.''

Mr. Beasley barnstormed several cities that Republicans can usually count on, flanked by two of the party's most revered figures -- icon U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, 95, and former Gov. Carroll Campbell -- and with popular 3rd District Congressman Lindsay Graham, who's unopposed for re-election. With the election only five days away, it signaled concern that Republicans might lose the governor's office after holding it for 12 years.

But as the four men walked into The Alley, still out of view of the crowd, someone signaled their arrival. Taped background music at the ready, music teacher Barbara Rollins lifted her trumpet to pursed lips. Her husband, Grady, poised his trombone, and they swung into Stars and Stripes Forever. The crowd began to chant, ``Four more years, four more years.'' And Mr. Beasley smiled.

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•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

Aiken was his last stop of the day, after Easley, Anderson and Greenwood, all heavily Republican. But Mr. Beasley said the trip was meant to energize the party faithful. ``We can't take this election for granted,'' he said. ``People have to get out and vote.''

Mr. Campbell said he's stumping for Mr. Beasley to get across a blunt message. ``This election is like none I've ever seen before in South Carolina, with so much money coming in from outside. It's dangerous. It's frightening. And I'm not saying that just because it's the gambling industry supporting Jim Hodges against David Beasley. I'd think it was dangerous if the textile industry or any industry was pouring this much money into defeating one candidate and electing his opponent.

``No industry should have that much power and influence that they can change the direction of government. People don't spend that much money without expecting something for it. I'm here because I am trying to let South Carolinians know how serious this election is.''

Mr. Beasley's campaign has filed a lawsuit trying to find out just how much money is involved in the ``Ban Beasley'' effort, but the courts won't intervene until after Tuesday's election.

At the Aiken rally and others like it Thursday, local party officials did big business in yard signs, door hangers and campaign literature. The message here was to plant the signs, talk to neighbors, find five people who might not be planning to vote and talk them into voting GOP.

Some of those signs will not go into yards, however. They now bear the signatures of Mr. Thurmond, the longest-serving U.S. senator in history and the only one ever elected on a write-in vote; of Mr. Campbell; and Mr. Beasley.

Children had their pictures taken with Mr. Thurmond. He kissed babies. And he told their parents to vote next Tuesday.

While much of the message Thursday touched on issues near and dear to Republicans -- like tax cuts and economic development, welfare reform and education improvements -- the bottom line was ``whether or not we'll have a governor who is for sale in South Carolina,'' Mr. Beasley said.

The governor's race has drawn national attention, including mentions on CNN, MSNBC, and the major networks, and in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time and other newspapers and magazines.

Even in Aiken, a Dutch journalist based in Washington for NRC Handelsblad worked the crowd for quotes.

``Your American elections are interesting everywhere,'' said Juurd Eijsvoogel. He said he has been following Mr. Beasley's battle with gambling interests, which intensified this week with news that a federal court has cleared a space at Murrells Inlet for a casino boat.

The Republicans have even dropped their adamant opposition to a state lottery -- the key plank in the Hodges' campaign -- in an effort to slow the Democrat's momentum.

``If people want to have a lottery in South Carolina, that's fine,'' Mr. Campbell said. ``But just don't pretend it's going to solve every problem. It can't. It won't. And it's not worth throwing away this election.''

Margaret N. O'Shea can be reached at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.