Tuesday Is Primary Day In South Carolina

COLUMBIA (AP) - South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham faces a primary challenger in his bid for a second term.

Graham has spent more than $3 million on the re-election in Tuesday's primary against Republican challenger Buddy Witherspoon. The retired orthodontist and Graham both spent Monday shaking hands and making phone calls.

Witherspoon had spent $211,356 and had $94,484 on hand in his bid.

Newcomers Michael Cone and Bob Conley face each other in the Democratic primary. The winner will run against Graham or Witherspoon in November.

Primaries in Three South Carolina Congressional Districts

Three incumbent Republicans face challengers in congressional primaries in South Carolina as voters go to the polls in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Districts.

Congressmen Henry Brown, Joe Wilson and Bob Inglis all face opposition on the Republican side. There are Democratic primaries in those three districts as well.

College of Charleston political scientist Jeri Cabot says the times have stirred up opposition on the Republican side.

Cabot says some conservative Republicans worry that with so much spending, Republicans have gotten away from their core values. She says other moderate Republicans worry that the war in Iraq was not handled well.

40 State Legislators Face Primary Opposition

South Carolina's primary ballots include 70 contests for state House and Senate seats.

Voters will choose the Democratic or Republican nominee in 48 House races and 22 Senate contests. Those include 40 incumbents who
face opposition within their parties.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler thinks the primaries will put Democrats on the verge of significant victories in November. But the General Assembly's balance of power is not expected to shift. Republicans control 60 percent of seats.

Some contests could make history, as five black Republicans hope to become the first black GOP legislators since Reconstruction.

Two former Democratic House members are trying to take back the seats they lost in 2006. Three House members are in primaries to win seats from retiring senators.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Polls in South Carolina open at 7:00am and will remain open until 7:00pm

News Channel 7 will provide complete Campaign 2008 Voice of the Voter on the air and online throughout the day. Click here to go to our Election Section

For more information from the South Carolina Election Commission, click here