AP story on GOP mischief in S.C. .....sorry if it's a dupe....

[Gloria]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7576335.htm
Posted on Fri, Dec. 26, 2003

Republicans could stir up mischief by voting in S.C. Democratic primary
JENNIFER HOLLAND
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A conservative radio program airing in South Carolina's Republican-heavy Upstate region has airwaves buzzing with talk about a matchup between President George W. Bush and a flamboyant black preacher from New York.

Whether a wacky stunt or a sincere endorsement for presidential candidate Al Sharpton, the morning drive-time show on WORD-AM has called on its GOP listeners to exercise their right to vote in the state's first-in-the-South Democratic primary.

"We just happen to be very excited about the Reverend Al Sharpton," said WORD program director Peter Thiele. "I think of all the candidates who would be the most fun running against 'W' - he is the Reverend Al."

The Democrats' Feb. 3 contest is open to all voters regardless of party affiliation, presenting the opportunity for political mischief. After all, that's what some Democrats attempted in 2000, abandoning party ties briefly to support Sen. John McCain in the hopes of beating Bush in the state's Republican primary.

South Carolina will be a critical race after Iowa and New Hampshire kick off the nominating season next month. Republicans and conservative-minded independents here could help swing the momentum to a weaker candidate in attempt to ensure a Bush win.

MORE

[Brian_Expat]

1. Let 'em try

The racist Republicans in SC don't stand a chance of affecting the national outcome.

[Deesh]

2. Ok, they might do that...

...but most people don't do it. I think it will be an overwhelmingly Democratic turn-out and only a handful of GOP spoilers.

After what Karl Rove did to John McCain in SC's last GOP primary, I'm surprised anyone in the state could support Bush in the general election. Karl's smear job on McCain gave off a powerful stench.

Just the same, that's what we're up against this year. Once the Democratic nominee is chosen, let's rally hard and remove W from his present resident address.

[SayitAintSo]

4. You are right about Rove's stench that still lingers here ...

SC is a crazy place politically. BTW I voted for McCain in the puke primary ... not as a mischief maker - moreover McCain was the better puke choice if were were going to be stuck with one. Rove settled that thought didn't he.

[Deesh]

6. A question...

Hello, Say-It-Ain't-So. Thanks for the post -- you nailed it with Rove, too -- and thanks for voting for McCain instead of George Bush.

How do Republicans in SC respond to this information? It was a surprise to me that mainstream GOP voters chose Bush over McCain. Did Rove bore into them that deeply? Good god. It's scary.

[SayitAintSo]

8. What happened was this ....

Bush/Rove flooded the electorate with so many egregious lies it was unbelievable: Examples:

McCain aided the enemy in Nam - betrayed his fellow POW's
His wife was a drug addict
He fathered a bastard black child
He's crazy and unstable
He's a manchurian candidate
He fucked Jane Fonda ( sorry, I made that up :) but they probably would have said it if they thought it would have helped... )

They did it with radio shows, whispers, push polls, car fliers, emails from Bob Jones ... Those holier than thou christians - spewing this trash.

But the crowning blow was that Bush promised the head of the state guard some big deal if he endorsed Bush ( a fucking chickenhawk ) over McCain (a true ware hero.) That Bastard not only endorsed Bush ... He put out a letter on guard letterhead (illegal) telling ALL his vets state wide to get behind Bush. I am still fucking frosted about that. So don't put anything past the Bush/Rove machine ...

One thing though - I hear the vets in SC are really pissed at Bush ... I don't think you can fool them twice. That's where Clark has a real chance here. Kerry does too.

Anyway ... hope that answers it for you !

[Eric J in MN]

5. If the push-polls smearing McCain didn't backfire on Bush in 2000, then

If the push-polls smearing McCain didn't backfire on Bush in 2000, then why would they hurt him now?

[Donna Zen]

3. Under normal circumstances you would be correct

and past experience of these crossover shenanigans have never actually skewed the vote.

However, with the "honest" votes being split among 9 candidates, I'm afraid the GOP will be able to do considerable damage in many places.

[Bombtrack]

7. this is why a "smoke filled room" is superior to what we have now

it's so unbelievably easy to help nominate weak candidates for the other side.

[SayitAintSo]

9. Depends on who's in those smoke filled rooms though ...

But it looks like that would be our best bet now I'm afraid ...

[rucky]

10. If Sharpton does well in SC, it'll be good for the party

no matter what the reason is. Sharpton is good for the party. Let the racist idiots vote & charge up the Af-Am base in their own state for us.

[SayitAintSo]

11. I agree that Sharpton has been good for the party ...

I don't think he will carry SC - not sure who will at this point but truely don't believe all the polls that say Dean is leading down here. The polls may say it, but my contacts say not. We'll see....