Fish Fry

Ready to rumble

County Democrats rally in Beaufort in advance of election

Published in The Island Packet Sunday October 10, 2010

By PATRICK DONOHUE • pdonohue@beaufortgazette.com • 843-706-8152

Beaufort County Democrats say they’re ready for a fight come Election Day. About 100 area Democrats packed the pavilion at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Saturday for the Beaufort County Democratic Party’s 10th annual fish fry and candidate forum.

The event featured stump speeches from a number of Democratic candidates seeking statewide offices as well as congressional candidate Rob Miller.

Miller, a Lady’s Island resident, will again face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson in the race to represent South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District. Wilson defeated Miller by about 30,000 votes in 2008 to represent the district, which includes Beaufort County.

Miller said he will need help from volunteers in Beaufort County and across the 10-county district to prevent history from repeating itself.

“When a campaign comes down to the final 25 days, it really comes down to getting out the vote,” Miller said. “That means leather on the streets. That means knocking on doors.”

Blaine Lotz, chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party, said he has no doubt that party volunteers across the county will do all they can to elect Miller and other Democratic candidates.

“We have more than 130 volunteers in northern Beaufort County and more than 90 volunteers in southern Beaufort County,” Lotz said. “For those who say there is an enthusiasm gap in the Democratic Party, I say, ‘Let them come to Beaufort County.’” The event also featured a speech from Fred Sheheen, father of Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state senator Vincent Sheheen. Vincent Sheheen was unable to appear at Saturday’s forum because he was attending a similar event in Charleston, according to organizers.

Fred Sheheen spent most of his allotted time touting his son and railing against Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, whom he called a “walking catalog of contradictions.”

“Vincent is my son so of course I’m going to be for him,” Fred Sheheen said. “But despite that bias, I believe in my heart that Vincent Sheen is the most qualified candidate for governor in the state of South Carolina today.”