United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2008

United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2008

2002 ← November 4, 2008 → 2014

Nominee Lindsey Graham Bob Conley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,076,150 790,216 Percentage 57.5% 42.3%

County results

U.S. Senator before election Lindsey Graham Republican Elected U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Republican

The 2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham won re-election to a second term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bob Conley, pilot
• Michael Cone, attorney

Campaign

"Conley stands for ending illegal immigration, protecting American workers, bringing our troops home from Iraq, increasing veterans' benefits, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, ending Wall Street bailouts, repealing the Patriot Act, cutting spending, and fidelity to the Constitution." He is opposed to same-sex marriage.

Michael Cone, Conley's primary opponent, criticized Conley for being too conservative, that "We've nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary." Conley was a Republican but left the party due to frustration over immigration, trade, and the Iraq War. Some have compared him to Republican Congressman Ron Paul, as Conley supported Republican Congressman Ron Paul in his presidential campaign.. Conley is considered to be a conservative Democrat.

Results

Conley defeated Cone in the primary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.

2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bob Conley	73,793	50.3
	Democratic	Michael Cone	72,807	49.7
Turnout			146,660

Republican primary

Candidates

• Lindsey Graham, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Buddy Witherspoon, former National Committeeman of the South Carolina Republican Party

Polling

Source	Date	Graham	Witherspoon
Public Policy Polling	January 17, 2008	52%	5%

Results

2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Lindsey Graham	186,398	66.8
	Republican	Buddy Witherspoon	92,547	33.2
Turnout			278,945

General election

Candidates

• Bob Conley (D), pilot
• Lindsey Graham (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Campaign

Conley, who had switched to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party, was opposed by much of the Democratic establishment because of his controversial positions such as his vocal opposition to the immigration reform and same-sex marriage and his support of Ron Paul's presidential bid. A number of prominent Democratic figures in the state, including U.S. Congressman James Clyburn, supported Lindsey Graham over Conley in the general election. Political scientist Bill Moore claimed “The bottom line is, by not paying attention to this race, they ended up embarrassed by what has transpired: a Republican getting the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate and a Republican who comes across as even more conservative than Lindsey Graham.“

Graham had $3.8 million. In fact, he’s spent more time on the campaign trail for John McCain than he has defending his own seat. Conley only raised $23,628 during the campaign. Conley was so unknown that even Graham admitted “Almost no one knows my opponent. The Democrats really didn’t field a — make a serious challenge — in terms of trying to find an opponent for me.“

Predictions

The race was rated "Safe Republican" by Congressional Quarterly.

Polling

Poll Source	Dates administered	Conley	Graham
Survey USA	October 28 - October 29, 2008	39%	58%
Survey USA	October 12 - October 13, 2008	40%	56%
Survey USA	September 21 - September 22, 2008	40%	54%
Rasmussen Reports	September 18, 2008	41%	50%
Public Policy Polling	July 9-11, 2008	32%	54%

Results

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Lindsey Graham	1,076,534	57.52%	+3.1
	Democratic	Bob Conley	790,621	42.25%	-1.9
	Independent (politician)	Write-ins	4,276	0.23%	+0.1
Majority			285,913
Turnout			1,871,431
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• United States Senate elections, 2008
• United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2008

External links

• South Carolina State Election Commission
• U.S. Congress candidates for South Carolina at Project Vote Smart
• South Carolina, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
• South Carolina U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Graham (R-i) vs Conley (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Official campaign websites
  • Lindsey Graham
  • John J. Cina