GOP hopefuls rally in Aiken

AIKEN --- Republicans in Aiken County were out in force Thursday night, showing their support for the Grand Old Party and its candidates on the November ballot.

About 300 party members gathered under a tent at the Aiken Horse Park for the county party's first candidate rally.

"This is taking an opportunity to act on people's enthusiasm and excitement," said Dennis Saylor, the local party chairman. "We decided to have a rally to bring people together and let them know that the party's alive." Local Republican government officials and candidates running in the Nov. 4 election attended the rally, including U.S. Reps. Joe Wilson and Gresham Barrett and state Sen. Shane Massey and Greg Ryberg.

Mr. Wilson faces Democrat Rob Miller on the ballot for the 2nd Congressional District; Mr. Barrett is challenged by Democrat Jane Ballard Dyer in District 3; Mr. Massey faces Democrat Greg Anderson in state Senate District 25; and Mr. Ryberg is unopposed in District 24.

With the smell of barbecue wafting through the air and the sounds of the AAA Homeschool Band providing the dinner music, candidates milled through the crowd, shaking hands and politicking.

As the stock market suffered another day of losses, Mr. Barrett pleaded with the crowd.

"Please don't give up on the Republican Party," he said, telling the crowd it was time for the party to take off the gloves and to get back to its roots.

"When we get back to Washington, if we're going to get out of this, we're going to have to start calling out names," Mr. Barrett said.

Mr. Saylor said people seem to be taking an interest in the election, as evidenced by the increase of registered voters.

In Aiken County, registered voters rose from about 81,000 in January to more than 90,000 last week.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.