South Carolina

South Carolina Superdelegate Endorses Barack Obama; South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chair Endorses Obama

May 09, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, the Democratic Party Vice Chair in South Carolina and superdelegate endorsed Barack Obama.

Barack Obama supporters: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

Jeffcoat is the 269th superdelegate to endorse Barack Obama. Obama is 162 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

His statement is below:    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster announced today that the House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee unanimously passed H. 4309, the bill that would abolish parole for all crimes in South Carolina.

“Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Murrell Smith and the subcommittee, we have taken the first step toward restoring the public’s confidence in the criminal sentencing process,” said McMaster.

The bill now moves to the full House Judiciary Committee. A companion bill, S. 894, is currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Source: South Carolina Attorney General

Atlanta, Ga., March 26, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 4, as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, today announced the availability of approximately $3.6 Million in grants to fund projects within the Southeast to demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions. EPA expects to fund between five and ten grants ranging from $250,000 and $750,000. However, EPA reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.    » read more »

MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008, WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced that it has settled a Voting Rights Act lawsuit against the Georgetown County, S.C., Board of Education. The Justice Department simultaneously filed a complaint and negotiated consent decree pertaining to the method of election for the Georgetown County Board of Education.    » read more »

Atlanta, Ga., March 17, 2008 -- As part of EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program, EPA will present a grant for $241,500 to the South Carolina Department of Education. The Department of Education, with the cooperation of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), will install anti-idling devices and retrofit crankcase filtration systems on 500 school buses throughout the state. The grant is one of three being awarded in the Southeast this year, totaling $680,000.    » read more »

February 15, 2008, Culver City, CA – In an interview with Farai Chideya, airing today on NPR's News & Notes, Senator James Clyburn (D-SC) discusses his role as a superdelegate in this critical time in the presidential race to nominate a Democratic candidate.

Senator Clyburn’s interview comes on the heels of other superdelegates of color that have decided to change their vote from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama to reflect their support for the votes of their constituency.    » read more »

Friday, February 8, 2008, WASHINGTON - South Carolina can move forward with plans to build I-73 now that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved environmental documents for the project, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

With all federal clearances in place, South Carolina can take the next step to explore financing options to start constructing this new section of interstate.

“Today this state joins the growing list of places that are embracing new and innovative approaches to finance transportation projects,” Peters said.    » read more »

January 30, 2007 -- Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster announced today that the Gang Prevention Study Committee, created by the General Assembly in the 2007 Criminal Gang Prevention Act, has completed its Initial Report and Findings. The report was submitted to the General Assembly today.

The entire report can be viewed online: http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/newsroom/pdf/2008/gangstudy.pdf    » read more »

Washington, DC - 01/27/2008 - Nineteen percent of eligible South Carolina citizens under the age of 30 participated in the South Carolina primaries, according to preliminary analysis by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). The primaries attracted an estimated 120,000 young voters to the polls.    » read more »

1/26/2008 -- "I have called Senator Obama to congratulate him and wish him well.

"Thank you to the people of South Carolina who voted today and welcomed me into their homes over the last year. Your stories will stay with me well beyond this campaign and I am grateful for the support so many of you gave to me.

"We now turn our attention to the millions of Americans who will make their voices heard in Florida and the twenty-two states as well as American Samoa who will vote on February 5th.    » read more »

26 January 2008 -- Illinois Senator Barack Obama won the South Carolina Democratic primary with more votes than his two rivals combined. This was a much-needed win for the African-American candidate and polling results show he had overwhelming support from black voters, but Obama says he is seeking support from all voters, not just those who share his ancestry.    » read more »

January 27, 2008 -- Senator Barack Obama claimed a major victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary yesterday. With 99% of precincts reporting, Obama has won 55% of the votes. Senator Hillary Clinton picked up 27%, while John Edwards, who was born in South Carolina and had counted on a solid performance there to bolster his now sagging campaign, received 18%.

According to CNN exit polls, Obama won an equal number of male and female votes (54%); youth voters skewed sharply to Obama, with Clinton winning a majority of voters 65 and older. All other age groups went for Obama.    » read more »

Edwards criticizes Senator McCain for failing to acknowledge the impact of the struggling economy on South Carolina's families

Jan 23, 2008 -- Bennettsville, South Carolina – Today, on the first stop of his "Back Roads, Back Home Barnstorm," Senator John Edwards explained why it matters for the American people to have a president who understands their way of life, and how, as the only candidate born and raised in South Carolina, he will fight for hard-working Americans in the Palmetto State and across America.    » read more »

Jan 21, 2008:

Ambinder: "Bet Edwards will win the focus groups again… he is dominating the debate." "8:35 pm | He is dominating the debate so far...extremely well informed on the subjects he's being asked, and he seems to be relishing his role as the third wheel...because the two fighting children are forced to listen to him. Again, on points, he seems to win these debates."

[http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/bet_edwards_will_win_the_focus.php]    » read more »

On Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Edwards Calls On Americans To Speak Out Against Injustice And Inequality