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Incumbent
Ernest Hollings(D)
OpponentBob Inglis(R)
Race outlookToss 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)
OpponentJim Hodges(D)
Race outlookToss 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
OutlookStrong
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

OutlookStrong
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
OpponentNo Democratic opponent
OutlookStrong
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
OutlookStrong
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

OutlookStrong
Democrat
District Profile;size=2>

Central and South - Florence; parts of Columbia and
Charleston.1996 House: D-69%
R-30%













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