The Ron Paul Revolution (signs where they highlight love spelled backwards in Revolution) has hit Greenville, SC! And as I saw three, cheap and unprofessional-looking signs for Ron Paul, I realized... I hardly see any signs for anyone else, right here, deep in conservative territory.
Saw one Romney sign a few weeks ago, and the thing that struck me was how incredibly dull even his sign was. It was similar to the one at the top of his web page: http://mittromney.com/ . Except, even duller, if that's possible. And it was the first one I remember seeing, which strikes me as odd, considering that the candidates, dems and repubs, have been in town.
The local paper was practically salivating a few weeks ago over the idea of Fred Thompson running, ( http://www.greenvilleonline.com/... ). I read it and could just imagine the editorial board going, "Please, God, maybe this guy will generate some excitement." But even with them trotting out Thompson talking points, nobody seemed to pick up on it. They floated him, and he sank.
Obama drew 3,5000 people at his rally here ( http://www.dailykos.com/... )a month or so ago, which is a truly astonishing number for any candidate at this point and especially for a Democrat in Greenville.
I don't know if I've seen the first sign here for Rudy, but he had the misfortune to pick as his state campaign chairman a guy who just got indicted for buying a pound of cocaine. (Ooops.)
Thomas Ravenel, state treasurer, apparently has a drug problem. His family says they've put him in a drug treatment facility, and Rudy picked Ravenel's father, former US Rep. Arthur Ravenel, to head his South Carolina campaign, since the son's busy with problems of his own.
Which had me think Rudy must not be able to find anyone else willing to work on his campaign in South Carolina because surely the 70-something-year-old father of a guy just indicted on cocaine charges would not be anybody's first pick to head a campaign.
I think Rudy visited Greenville not too long ago. Can't remember if it was a "rally" or an invitation-only affair, but he certainly didn't draw 3,500 people. The local paper was curiously silent on naming a number of people who attended, if I remember correctly. For them to even admit Obama drew 3,500 is astonishing. They're still defending Bush & the glorious war to protect "our freedom."
McCain was here trying to raise money, and I remember the paper saying he was reassuring everyone they sold all their seats at some dinner/fund-raiser thing, but it wasn't for much money and it certainly wasn't a lot of seats.
Hillary's been here. I think she might have had a couple of hundred people. I think I've seen a few signs for her.
I know Edwards has been here and don't remember anything about his crowd.
Makes me think this former Republican stronghold is either A) Disgusted with Republicans or B)Not excited about any Republican candidates so far or C)Both.
I don't know if they're disgusted enough to stay home on election day, once the Republicans have a nominee, but they sure seem completely indifferent to the candidates now.
Is it just that it's early?
I don't know.
Seems like a complete lack of interest and enthusiasm, especially for the Republicans. (Except for Obama, of course.)
Disclaimer: I haven't picked a candidate. Lean toward Edwards. Was truly astonished by Obama's crowd here, as I think everyone in town must have been. Does it mean anything at this point?
I don't know.
They're at least interested enough to come out and listen to the man speak, which is more than I've seen for any other candidate here.