Fair: Convention has Republicans in Upstate fired up
Local Republicans attending their party’s national convention here aren’t the only ones fired up about Sen. John McCain’s race for the White House, state Sen. Mike Fair of Greenville said Thursday.
He said people back home in Greenville have been calling and e-mailing him, asking what they can do to help.
“That’s pretty good stuff, and unusual too,” he said. “I’ve been to four of these conventions, and it’s never happened before. We’ll go back home and hit the ground running.”
McCain accepted his party’s nomination for president on Thursday night, after South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and a long list of other speakers addressed the crowd at the Republican National Convention.
Graham, who has traveled to Iraq with McCain, touted McCain’s foreign policy experience while attacking Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
“Our troops deserve a commander in chief who acknowledges their success, has walked in their shoes, speaks their language, shares in their sufferings, and will lead them to victory in a war we cannot afford to lose,” he said. “That person is my dear friend John McCain.”
Fair, a member of South Carolina’s delegation, said Graham’s plum speaking slot says a lot about his close friendship with McCain and his family.
“That is an outstanding compliment to him and an outstanding compliment to South Carolina,” Fair said. “It doesn’t go unrecognized by the rest of the delegation how meaningful it is going to be for South Carolina if John McCain wins the presidency, because of Sen. Graham’s relationship with him.”
Besides McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the convention featured appearances from political luminaries such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
“We’re all together on the plane now,” said MaryAnn Riley, a delegate from Inman who was a Romney supporter early in the presidential race.
Riley said McCain was the second, third or even fourth pick for many in South Carolina, but that no longer matters.
“McCain’s going to lead the ticket, and we have a fresh new face,” she said. “I really think there is more excitement now.”
Fair agreed, saying having Palin on the ticket has helped inspire the party.
“All over the state there are races that involve Republicans that can use a re-energized presidential campaign, and that is what she has done,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said the state’s get-out-the-vote program has been signing up volunteers all week.
“We don’t have to worry about bringing (the excitement) back home,” he said. “Our elected officials are fired up and ready to help out.”
By Malia Rulon
The Greenville News
GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
September 5, 2008