South Carolina’s Bitter Dem Gov Primary Grows Increasingly Ugly

South Carolina’s Democrat gubernatorial primary continues to get ugly as liberal politician James Smith takes criticism from his rival, Phil Noble. The Greenville News reports that at a Democrat forum last week, Noble took aim at Smith, calling him “another member of the General Assembly with tired slogans and worn-out ideas.”

Noble has stepped up his rhetoric against Smith in recent weeks, claiming last month that his opponent’s contradictory record on key issues should “disqualify” him from the Democrat nomination. And with Smith trailing Noble in the most recent poll of Democrat voters despite his establishment backing, his campaign has been plagued by reports of panic as Noble’s attacks escalate.

With South Carolina political scientists warning that Democrats must be “completely united” with “no bad blood” to win the state’s gubernatorial race, the increasingly bitter primary contest between Noble and Smith does not bode well for their chances of competing in November.