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Incumbent	Ernest Hollings(D)
Opponent	Bob Inglis(R)
*Race outlook*	Toss up - Trending Democratic

Sen. Ernest Hollings is a vulnerable Democratic incumbent running against the South's steady shift to the GOP. But Hollings is more than holding his own against his Republican rival, Congressman Bob Inglis. Hollings, a 32-year Senate veteran, energetically campaigned last summer while Inglis largely sat on his hands. The result was improved poll numbers for Hollings. Hollings has hammered away at bread-and-butter Democratic issues: education, Social Security, and health care. Still, South Carolina, with the Confederate flag flying over its State Capitol, is a conservative bastion. Hollings holds a narrow lead in the latest polls and has a substantial advantage in campaign cash. Inglis refuses to take PAC money.


Incumbent	Governor David Beasley(R)
Opponent	Jim Hodges(D)
*Race outlook*	Toss up

The last time a sitting governor lost reelection in South Carolina was in 1876. Republican incumbent David Beasley is in the fight of his political life to keep it that way. In what has shaped up to be one of the most dramatic races of the year, Democratic challenger Jim Hodges gambled on an issue (education) and parlayed some fortuitous timing into a position from where he could defeat a GOP golden boy in a state that had recently become one of the most reliably Republican.

A telegenic politician with close ties to the Christian right, Beasley has held elected office since he was 20 years old. Originally elected as a Democrat, he switched parties in 1991. Although he was elected in 1994 with only a slim margin, he successfully pushed much of his agenda through the legislature. He cut spending, created jobs and passed welfare reform.

Beasley's troubles began in November 1996, when he changed his position on the confederate flag and called for it to be removed from the statehouse. An emotional issue in South Carolina, Beasley angered many in his own party, and in January 1997, the GOP-controlled House killed his proposal to move the flag.

The other issue that has come to haunt Beasley is his opposition to video poker, which is legal in South Carolina. The Republican Governors' Association estimates that gambling interests have poured $8-10 million into the state in an attempt to defeat Beasley.

In this campaign, the gambling industry has sided with Hodges and pumped money into his war chest to ful his battle against Beasley. Hodges has made education the cornerstone of his campaign with his main proposal being a lottery for better schools.

Character also became an issue in the campaign. Just as the Beasley campaign compared Hodges with Clinton, the tables turned on Beasley. Rumors began swirling about possible infidelity, potentially devastating for a family values Republican, and Time magazine published a story about how Democratic operatives were preparing to depose Beasley about an alleged affair.

Beasley and his pregnant wife called a press conference to deny the affair. It served to stifle whispers of an affair, but it was too late to stomp out the larger story that Beasley's reelection was endangered.

The most recent public polls were taken before the main events unfolded, but the Beasley camp believes that they have stopped the hemorrhaging. If the race is close, as it is expected to be, Libertarian candidate Timothy Moultrie could play a factor by picking up some disaffected voters. Both sides are anxious to see how the dice will roll.


Current Lineup: 6 Districts, 4 Republicans, 2 Democrats
CD1
Incumbent	MARK SANFORD (R) -- age 38 Elected 1994
Opponent	Joe Innella (Natural Law) --age 45 Nutritional Consultant/ Businessowner/Teacher
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	East - Part of Charleston; Myrtle Beach.1996 House: face=Arial size=2>R-96% Other 4%

CD2
Incumbent	FLOYD SPENCE (R) --age 70 Elected 1970
Opponents	Jane Frederick (D) --age 39 Architect/Community Activist face=Arial size=2> Maurice Raiford (Natural Law) College Professor
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Central and South - Columbia suburbs; Hilton Head. 1996 House: R-90% NL-10%

CD3
Incumbent	LINDSEY GRAHAM (R) -- age 43 Elected 1994
Opponent	No Democratic opponent
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> West - Anderson; Aiken. 1996 House: size=2>D-39% R-60%

CD4
face=Arial>Open Seat	Jim DeMint (R) --age 47 Businessman/GOP Activist/Fmr Inglis Campaign Advsr Glenn Reese (D) --age 56 State Senator
	size=2> Peter Ashy (Reform Party) International Bus Consult/1996 Senate nominee Faye Walters (Natural Law) Hair Salon Owner
*Outlook*	Strong Republican
*District Profile*;	size=2> Northwest - Greenville; Spartanburg

CD5
Incumbent	JOHN SPRATT (D) -- age 56 Elected 1982
Opponents	Mike Burkhold (R) --age 29 Rock Hill City Manager Dianne Nevins (Natural Laws) Businesswomen
*Outlook*	Likely Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> North Central - Rock Hill, 1996 House: size=2>1996 D-54% R-45%

CD6
Incumbent	size=2>JAMES "JIM" CLYBURN (D) -- age 58 Elected 1992
Opponents	Gary McLeod (R) --age 55 Perennial candidate George Taylor (Natural Law), Teacher/Organic Farmer
*Outlook*	Strong Democrat
*District Profile*;	size=2> Central and South - Florence; parts of Columbia and Charleston.1996 House: D-69% R-30%

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