PoliTick-Tock

Another wrinkle in red v. blue

Today's article about the emerging race for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District describes the S.C. coast as a Republican stronghold since the Reagan Revolution of 1980.

That may be technically true for the 1st Congressional District, but it doesn't quite tell the whole story of Horry County, writes Sally Howard, former chair of the county's Democratic Party, in an email today.

"Up until the 90s Horry County was in the 6th district and had Democrat congressmen... John Jenrette, Robin Talon, etc.," Howard writes. "We were redistricted and the first year we were in the 1st dist. was 1992 (I was chairman of the local party). Mark Sanford won that seat then."

It's also worth noting that the heavily Democratic 6th district, now represented by Jim Clyburn, has also had Republican Congressmen in the recent past, Edward Young in the early 1970s and John Light Napier in the 1980s.

What's the moral of all this? It's always harder than it seems to paint only in red or blue.

Barfield may consider run for U.S. House

State Rep. Liston Barfield said he would consider running for the U.S. House of Representatives - if Congressman Henry Brown chooses not to run.

Barfield, R-Aynor, said July 14 that Washington would be a good place for him to wrap up his career.

"I always thought that that would be good to finish it off in Congress," he said.

The thought will only turn into action if Brown, who is serving his fourth two-year term, decides not to run.

"If Henry runs, I'm supporting Henry," Barfield said.

Barfield said he heard that Brown might run for state treasurer, a seat that might be vacated because of the indictment of Thomas Ravenel.