Reply #18: Well...

[David in Canada]

You are automatically ascribing malice to what can be reasonably attributed to stupidity.

It isn't like Vic Rawl was exactly a well known name himself. In the 6th District primary, where Jim Clyburn faced Gregory Brown, Clyburn won by 91-9. Of course, Clyburn in the Majority Whip and is well known and popular and Brown was basically a name on a ballot. If Rawl had so much as a small television ad buy in the weekend before the primary, he would have beaten Greene by at least a 3-1 margin.

Rawl just assumed that victory was assured despite the fact many outside Charleston County knew neither him nor Greene from any other Joe Schmo. If he had any sort of name recognition, even just enough for his name to 'ring a bell' in most voters minds, he would have won in a walk. In fact, having a name 'ring a bell' is what allows a large number of mediocre incumbents to continuously win re-election time after time.