“I’M 95 PERCENT CERTAIN I’LL RUN,” SAYS SON OF FORMER GUV
The Palmetto Scoop has learned that Mike Campbell is strongly considering another run for Lt. Governor of South Carolina in 2010.
In an exclusive interview with TPS, Campbell said, “the number of people from around the state that have approached me to encourage me to run again has been tremendous, many of which were supporters of my former opponents. It’s been both flattering and humbling to say the least.”
In June 2006, Campbell won the three-way Republican primary for Lt. Gov. but was narrowly defeated two weeks later in the run-off by incumbent Andre Bauer.
Campbell, who says he has also been approached about running for other offices, including governor and U.S. Senate, would widely be considered the odds on favorite for Lt. Gov. should he decide to run.
“After we did as well as we did last time, I would be foolish not to give it serious consideration,” said Campbell, who is the youngest son of the late Republican icon Governor Carroll Campbell.
In the 2006 primary, Campbell received 46 percent of the vote to Bauer’s 38 percent. Dr. Henry Jordan of Anderson missed the run-off with 16 percent.
During his campaign, Campbell demonstrated not only an ability to win votes, but also success raising money. He assembled an all-star finance committee made up of top business leaders from around the state. Additionally, he garnered rare primary endorsements from national GOP leaders including former President George H.W. Bush.
Since the 2006 campaign, the forty-year-old Campbell has returned to overseeing his business interests but has remained politically active.
Last year, he served as South Carolina Chairman and Senior National Advisor for Mike Huckabee’s Presidential campaign. That connection could prove very beneficial, especially with the state’s social conservatives.
So when will Campbell decide about his future?
“Right now I’m concentrating on several business projects and other opportunities that I want to see come to fruition before I make any final decision,” Campbell said. “However, I’m about 95 percent certain I’ll run. As long as this is something the people of the state still want me to do, I’ll probably make a final decision by the first quarter of 2009.”
One of those opportunities includes a role on a new reality series about Campbell’s close friend and pro-wrestling legend “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
“Things are still in the developmental stages with the show, but Ric asked me that once things get underway if I would be a part of it. I said absolutely.”
This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 2:54 pm and is filed under Executive. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
It may be flattering, but it is also the kiss of death (historically) for a gubernatorial bid.
Is this some kind of sick joke or what? He had the race just about handed to him on a silver platter and he still blew it.
He created a chapter of Americans for Prosperity and then let it die. He’s a clown and buffoon.
He can run if he wants, but damn, he should not claim the public is begging him!
Another Quinn client gets an exclusive interview on TPS. Imagine that.
BillyBob:
I wil second that. I tried recruit AFP back to South Carolina after the Campbell fiasco and they had washed their hands with the Palmetto State. Campbell used it as a resume builder and it turned out to be a resume killer. That guy should do what he does best flipping burgers at Wendys
to echo SeaFarer - yeah really, Adam Piper practically ran his campaign and now works for Quinn, and you call this an exclusive — ha! Try as you might Fogle, you’re no Papa Bear.
We need this dude as President. Is it too late to write him in?
Seriously, I knew Carroll Campbell, and this kid is no Carroll Campbell.
NO no NO. SC said No once. We will say NO again Mike. You are not ” leadership, get your hands dirty” material. Get a real job and go to work and stop having illusions of grandeur about politics.
Hey, wait a second…isn’t this the son of a governor who still wasn’t able to graduate from college? What a great message to send to the kids of our state: Hey, it’s OK not to go to college…you can still be Lt. Gov (with obvious aspirations for more).
The time for this sort of thing has passed in this state. Thank the Lord.
Maybe he can get a job at Wendy’s, if he can handle filling out the job application?