Democrats meet SC gubernatorial candidates on Hilton Head

Area Democrats expressed confidence Sunday a representative of their party can reclaim the governor's mansion for the first time in more than a decade.

Four of the Democrats' five candidates for governor spoke on Hilton Head Island during a fundraiser for the state Democratic party at the Sea Pines home of Lynne and Blaine Lotz.

State party chairwoman Carol Fowler said she is proud of her party's candidates and believes one capable of winning the general election for the first time since 1998 will emerge from the crowded field during her party's primary.

"They realize what you and I realize," Fowler said of the candidates. "We're going to elect a Democrat."

Several of the candidates said their optimism is fueled in part by the troubles of the state's high-ranking Republicans, with some referring to Gov. Mark Sanford's extramarital affair and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's recent interruption of a speech by President Barack Obama.

"There's blood in the water now because of the idiotic behavior of so many Republican leaders," gubernatorial candidate and state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said. "This is the year."

Fellow gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden also said he believes electing a Democrat is possible.

"It's going to take hard work," he said. "It's going to take a commitment of time, and it's going to take a real vision."

Robert Ford, a state senator from Charleston, said he could succeed in a race for governor by helping Democrats reach out to "everydaypeople."

"I'm going to bring in a whole new coalition of Democrats," he said.

Dwight Drake, a Columbia attorney, pledged to focus on job creation and education and said he was pleased the party has support among the traditionally Republican voters of Beaufort County. He said Sanford has been in a "constant mode of assault" on

education.

"We have had a failure of leadership on the two most important issues facing this state," he said.

The party's fifth candidate, Mullins McLeod, was scheduled to attend but could not because of a "child care issue," Fowler said.