GRAHAM, SPRATT SHOW POWER, WILL VOTERS?

The only thing worse than a Monday is the end of summer, which means today is probably going to suck. Sorry to be such a downer, but the odds just aren’t looking good. The odds are looking good, hoeever, for a few scoops to ease the pain.

• GRAHAM DEBATED DEBATES — The first of three presidential debates will be held Friday in Mississippi and the New York Times has a good behind-the-scenes article on how the formats were decided. Surprisingly, the negotiations only involved two people, one for Republican John McCain and one for Democrat Barack Obama. At the table for Republicans, lending more and more weight to the influence he would have in a McCain Administration, was none other than our own Sen. Lindsey Graham.

• VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN — Early voting for the November election is already underway in South Carolina and a number of other states. If you meet absentee voting requirements, then you can cast your ballot by mail or in person. Estimates are that one-third of the state may end up using this option.

• SC FOX GUARDING US HEN HOUSE — South Carolina’s wealthiest member of Congress will be in charge of investigating the financial impact of the government’s $85 billion bailout of insurance giant AIG. As the House Budget Committee Chairman, Rep. John Spratt will look at the loan’s effect on the federal budget. So expect the bailout bill to be loaded with money for college theaters in Indiana, county courthouses in West Virginia, and nature trails in Pennsylvania (all things Spratt voted for last year). Also expect a few natural disaster jokes for good measure.

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