Upstate GOP leaders plotting to impact SC Democratic primary by boosting Bernie Sanders

[Jose Garcia]

COLUMBIA — A group of prominent Upstate Republicans is preparing to launch a wide-scale effort this week to encourage GOP voters across South Carolina to vote for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Feb. 29 Democratic primary, The Post and Courier has learned.

The Republican plan to impact the Democratic race, emerging just weeks before the “First in the South” primary, has two goals: Boost the candidate who the Republicans believe presents the weakest general election threat to President Donald Trump and pressure Democrats to support closing state primaries in the future.

South Carolina has open primaries, meaning voters do not have to register by party and can participate in either party’s contest. But some conservative activists have long pushed to change that, arguing it would ensure a more pure party process, and they are hoping this effort will win over Democrats to that cause.

The S.C. GOP executive committee voted last year to forgo its 2020 presidential primary, so the Democratic election will be the only one held Feb. 29.

More: https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/upstate-gop-leaders-plotting-to-meddle-in-sc-democratic-primary/article_f1e7abd2-4788-11ea-aa9f-33a1d262994c.html

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

1. Tulsi as a running mate also heard

Lol two maga yokels yucking it up in iga the other day

[zackymilly]

3. You shop at IGA? The McLambs are Republicans. nt

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

4. Well when closet is 18 miles away

Sometimes have to hold my nose.

[zackymilly]

5. They donate a lot of money. Campbell University's stadium is named after them. n/t

[HarlanPepper]

10. How dare you! Shopping without ideological purity for convenience is a sin!

[Jersey Devil]

2. deja vu all over again?

This kind of reminds me how, in 2016, a lot of Dems were rooting for Trump to be the Repub nominee because they thought he was a joke and would be so easy to beat.

Yes, I am a Biden supporter, but I certainly would not write off anyone based on who Republicans prefer to be the Democratic nominee.

[MoonlitKnight]

7. Yep

[maximusveritas]

9. I thought you were going to say deja vu to when the GOP supported Sanders in 2016

Almost 40% of Sanders voters in the WV primary for example said they would vote for Trump over Sanders.
It's impossible to prove if they are smart to campaign for Sanders, but I think it's different than Democrats hoping for Trump who was tapping into the xenophobic and racist core of the majority of Republicans. Sanders is appealing to the socialist wing of the Democrats
(corrected) but it is a much smaller percentage of the party so they are right that he would be easier to beat.

[Laelth]

12. Republicans have a socialist wing?

-Laelth

[maximusveritas]

15. LOL, meant Democrats

[evertonfc]

6. as a Biden supporter

any of our candidates can win. Obama was a long shot initially. Trump was written off up until election night. We GOTV- we win.

[Jose Garcia]

11. Perhaps. But some candidates are more likely to lose

[Laelth]

14. Hear! Hear! n/t

-Laelth

[LastDemocratInSC]

8. The "Upstate GOP leaders" are all Bob Jones wackos.

They are a vicious lot.

[Laelth]

13. Upstate?

Does that mean people who live in Greenville or near Charlotte?



And why aren't Republicans from around the entire state on board with this project?

-Laelth

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. Kick