Headlines, 10/30 to 10/31

US SENATE: Odd rivals clash for Senate seat
US Sen. Lindsey Graham and challenger Bob Conley are add rivals for South Carolina's US Senate seat, especially after Conley supported Ron Paul's presidential bid. Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

• Graham responds to questions
US Sen. Lindsey Graham is responding to questions posed to him by the Daniel Island News. Source: Daniel Island News

US HOUSE: Clyburn calls for USA to get back on right track
US Rep. Jim Clyburn is telling voters that he needs their support to send him back to Washington to get the nation back on the right economic track. Source: The Aiken Standard

• Clyburn visits Oconee to stump for Dyer
Source: Anderson Independent Mail

• USC-Aiken gets visit from Barrett
Source: WJBF News

• Wilson associate says tax error not noticed for years
An unnoticed tax error in Lexington County allowed US Rep. Joe Wilson and an associate pay lower property taxes than what was right, prompting accusations from Democrats of unfair treatment. Source: The State / AP

• District 6 candidates answer questions
Source: Daniel Island News

• Spratt facing 2 challengers for re-election bid
Source: The Sumter Item

• Barrett calls for a return to basic economic principles
Source: The Aiken Standard

• Ketner challenges Brown for seat
Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

• Political event gets rowdy
Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

SC SENATE: Tough talk in Senate 28 race
State Sen. Dick Elliot and challenger Bill McKown are engaged in a hotly contested race for the Senate 28 seat along the Grand Strand. Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

• Gay robocalls stir debate in Senate District 16 race
Source: Rock Hill Herald

• Candidates stump for voter support
Source: The Sumter Item

• Horry voters to choose 4 to send to Columbia
Source: Myrtle Beach Herald

• Q&A with Senate 28 candidates
Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

SC HOUSE: Cobb-Hunter urges responsibility for health
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter is urging residents of her district to take their health into their own hands and make responsible decisions. Source: Orangeburg Times & Democrat

• Crump says Simrill has had enough time
Rep. Gary Simrill's opponent Herb Crump is arguing that the incumbent has had enough time in the legislature and that the seat needs some new blood. Source: Rock Hill Herald

• Erickson denies cemetery claim
Source: Hilton Head Island Packet

ELECTION: Final days of campaigns
Candidates for office are making their final push to convince voters that they are best suited to be elected. Source: The State

• York County residents ponder election
Source: Rock Hill Herald

• Tempers short in long voting lines
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

• Ware Shoals students getting involved in politics
Source: Greenwood Index-Journal

• Experts predicting Obama victory
Source: Seneca Daily Journal

• Getting the vote out in Sumter
Source: The Sumter Item

• Campaigns entering final days
Source: The Greenville News

• Sunday alcohol sales on some ballots
Source: The Post & Courier

• Republicans will revisit image after election
Source: The New York Times

• Tuesday is Election Day
Source: Florence Morning News

• Lawmakers received money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Source: WIS 10 News

• Voters reaching decision time
Source: Cheraw Chronicle

• Voters to make history at the polls
Source: Seneca Daily Journal

• Voters going to the polls early
Voters coming to vote early are swamping the polls at county election offices. ource: The State

• Absentee voting keeping Orangeburg officials busy
Source: Orangeburg Times & Democrat

• Common election myths debunked
Source: Orangeburg Times & Democrat

• York County extending election hours
Source: Rock Hill Herald

• Election workers to monitor voters
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

• School project on election crosses boundaries
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

• Beaufort sued over ballot change
Source: The Beaufort Gazette

• Could South Carolina become a blue state?
Source: WIS 10 News

• Alexander to dispel voting myths
Source: Florence Morning News

• Watch what you wear to the polls
Source: The Sumter Item

• Expectations on Election Day
Source: Daniel Island News

• Teens engaged by mock election
Source: The State

• Absentee ballots setting records
Source: The State

• Election fraud hotline set up for SC
Source: The Greenville News

• Absentee voters facing long lines
Source: The Post & Courier

• Voter fraud hotline set up to report issues
Source: The Post & Courier

• Obama masks outsell McCain
Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News

Dibble endorsed by Hodges and Courson
GOP Sen. John Courson and former Gov. Jim Hodges have endorsed Susie Dibble in her candidacy for the Richland 1 school board. Source: The State

Drummond honored for service to state
Sen. John Drummond was honored for his service to the state by public officials at a ceremony at Lander University last night. Source: Greenwood Index-Journal

Noble speaks out against money from Rich
Phil Noble of the SC New Democrats is going on a tour of the state to bring attention to money coming to Republican candidates from New York businessman Howard Rich, who advocates school choice programs. Source: The Post & Courier

OPINION

Support Amendment 1 on the ballot
"Amendment 1, one of three state constitutional amendments on Tuesday's ballot, would delete the section of the state constitution that says an unmarried woman must be at least 14 years old to consent to sex. In a sense, this amounts to constitutional housekeeping. South Carolina's Constitution is loaded down with extraneous provisions that have no place in the Constitution." Source: Rock Hill Herald

Nation will be shaped by court appointments
"The U.S., in the beginning, was fortunate enough to have one of the wisest Chief Justices on the Supreme Court. John Marshall followed the Constitution and set the tone for much of the checks and balances concept that has served the nation well. Nowadays, though, some of the decisions handed down by federal judges seem, to some, to be directly contradictory to Justice Marshall’s record." Source: Greenwood Index-Journal

McCain for President
"In the race for president, John McCain represents the experience, know-how, bi-partisanship and toughness needed to lead the United States for the next four years. A Republican member of the U.S. Senate from Arizona, McCain is vastly more experienced than relative newcomer and his Senate colleague, Illinois Democrat Barack Obama. The charismatic Obama’s campaign mantra has been “Change,” and it has caught on in a country ready for a new look in Washington, an end to the war in Iraq and fresh ideas on resolving the current economic crisis. He is not the only change agent, however." Source: Seneca Daily Journal

All eyes on the election
"Election 2008 is being watched closely. For the first time an African-American Democrat and a Republican female are on the presidential and vice presidential ballots is an obvious attention-getter. More than that, Americans are seeing this as a pivotal election, given the nation's conditions now, what with the economic problems, terrorism and the conflicts we are ensnared in the Middle East. Which new American president will best handle these challenges?" Source: Barnwell People-Sentinel

Incumbents endorsed for Congress
"Every election year, one category on the ballot actually seems to invite the futility that causes many to be apathetic: the congressional races. Districts are so carefully gerrymandered to favor this party or that one that the partisan behavior we see on Capitol Hill is foreordained. Elect a candidate from a super-Democratic district, you get a super-Democrat; draw a district to be hyper-Republican, and that’s the kind of representative you get." Source: The State

Bolton: Voters need to take back Lexington-Richland 5
"As bad as Lexington-Richland 5 needs new schools, the district’s bond issue on the ballot Tuesday is about far more than bricks and mortar. It’s a referendum on voters’ commitment to success. The ballot question might as well be, “Shall Lexington-Richland 5 continue as a high-achieving, affluent district that attracts top-notch administrators and teachers, new families and new development?” Source: The State

Echols: Get to the polls on Tuesday
"Because of the hard work of hundreds of dedicated volunteers from many churches, civic and other community organizations, thousands of Upstate citizens of all age groups, income levels, and ethnic backgrounds have registered to vote in 2008. However, registering is only the first step of the electoral process. The second and most important step is actually going to the polls Tuesday and casting your ballot." Source: The Greenville News

Lowcountry endorsements for SC House
"Five seats are contested for the S.C. House of Representatives on local ballots Tuesday. We urge voters to choose Steven Smith, Leon Stavrinakis, Wallace Scarborough, Vida Miller and George Bailey. Political newcomer Steven Smith would be a voice for accountability and frugality in state government. Elect him as representative for District 109." Source: The Post & Courier

King for House District 49
"In the race for state House District 49, we endorse Democrat John King. The District 49 seat covers southern York County, including parts of Rock Hill and York. The seat was vacated this year by longtime state Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, who retired. King is opposed by Republican Marvin Rogers, 32, who is running for public office for the first time. This was a tough race to call. Both candidates have attributes that would serve them well in office." Source: Rock Hill Herald

Casting absentee ballots nees multiple locations
"Early voting in southern Beaufort County has taken on an Election Day look with long lines of voters waiting to cast absentee ballots. Many probably showed up at Hilton Head Island's Town Hall to avoid just such a scene. It's not hard to figure out the problem nor hard to figure out the solution: We need more than one polling place in southern Beaufort County to handle the demand for in-person voting ahead of Election Day. We've heard no reports of long waits at the northern Beaufort County absentee voting site." Source: Hilton Head Island Packet

Bostic, Coakley, Condon endorsed for Charleston County Council
"Three seats are up for election on Charleston County Council. Voters will make their choices in single-member districts, but should consider candidates' broader aspirations for the county as a whole. Elect Coakley Hilton, an Independent, and incumbents Curtis Bostic, a Republican, and Colleen Condon, a Democrat." Source: The Post & Courier

Ford, Collins endorsed for SC Senate seats
"We don't share Sen. Robert Ford's views on a number of issues, including legalized gambling and unauthorized parking in handicapped spaces. But the long-serving Democrat has proven himself a hard-working and committed legislator. Voters in District 42 should give him another term." Source: The Post & Courier

Hollings: Next president needs fiscal responsibility of a governor
"I am often asked the difference between being a governor and a senator. As governor, if you want to increase revenues, you increase taxes. As senator, if you want to increase revenues, you cut taxes — stimulate the economy. By law, the secretary of the Treasury is required to post the increase in the national debt in a timely fashion, usually every other day around mid-morning."
Source: The Post & Courier