| As primary nears, tension mounts ahead of S.C. governor debates By Andy Shain 2 hrs ago COLUMBIA — The nasty part is about to begin in the 2018 South Carolina governor's election.
Three weeks before the primary, all the Republican and Democratic candidates vying for governor will debate in races that are becoming increasingly tense.
Two Democrats have continued bashing the race's perceived frontrunner, while Republican challengers have criticized Gov. Henry McMaster since he skipped two debates last week. Meanwhile, McMaster and his main rival have begun trading negative TV ads.
Now, for the first time, the Republicans get to meet on a stage for an hour. ETV and The Post and Courier will hold a televised GOP gubernatorial debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Clemson University. The Democrats tangle Thursday also at Clemson.
Campaign debates tend to be more about avoiding mistakes then scoring big. Gaffes are more memorable and make great ad fodder for foes.
But the debates, held in conjunction with the state's two major parties, come as South Carolinians have begun to pay more attention to the races for state's top job.
Candidates will get another chance at each other when ETV and The Post and Courier hold a second set of televised debates the week before the June 12 primary at the University of South Carolina. Sponsored In his 2018 debate debut, McMaster could use a good showing to keep challengers at bay.
His chief rival Catherine Templeton was targeted in television ads last week from McMaster's campaign and a PAC with ties to the governor's supporters.
Going on the offensive is a sign that McMaster's camp is worried about the Mount Pleasant attorney, political observers say.
Templeton has nearly matched McMaster in fundraising in her first race, but her side is outspending the governor on the airwaves with a $1.5 million boost in TV ad buys from a pro-Templeton group.
The conventional wisdom is that McMaster is heading to a runoff. Templeton is considered his likely opponent since she got into the race last year and has spent more time traveling around the state than Greenville businessman John Warren, who joined the race in February but is paying catch up by kicking in $3 million of his own money.
She and Warren are battling to be the lead "outsider" candidate against McMaster, a former lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Expect more attacks on McMaster for his ties to a key figure in the Statehouse corruption probe. Templeton and fellow challenger, Lt. Gov. Bryant, suggested at last week's debate that Republican voters might not want to back the governor because he could be indicted since his longtime political consultant, Richard Quinn, was a major focus in the investigation. McMaster has not been a reported target of the investigation and he is no longer working with Quinn.
The time has come for McMaster's challengers to challenge each other, College of Charleston political scientist Gibbs Knotts said.
"If everyone is aimed toward McMaster, they may not make the case for why they are the best alternative," he said.
Also on the GOP ballot is former Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill.
In the Democratic race, Smith quipped after a contentious debate last week that he can take the shots from opponents since he has been shot at while fighting in Afghanistan.
Smith stands out since he has raised the most money and carries the backing of former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the only Democrat in South Carolina's congressional delegation.
Smith and Florence business attorney Marguerite Willis, who is self-funding her campaign, debuted their first TV ads last week. Willis has touted being a woman in the #MeToo age and picking a running mate pick who is African-American, state Sen. John Scott, which she says is a more accurate reflection of the state's population.
Charleston businessman Phil Noble has won praise for his thoughtful answers in debates and forums, but he lags in gathering cash needed to get on TV. | 
