Charlie James and Becky McLaughlin discuss SC GOP candidate qualifications.

What this episode covers

Charlie James: Man oh man, this day is absolutely flown by! Thanks for joining me. Well, we got some information about a—possibly a certain candidate running for office. Joining us right now is Becky McLaughlin with Spartanburg County GOP. Becky, welcome to the program. How are you? Becky McLaughlin: I'm good. How are you, Charlie James? Charlie James: I am really, really good. Um, so something is going on tomorrow? Becky McLaughlin: Something is going on tomorrow. I have just been invited to a Zoom call at 11:45 AM, and tomorrow the filings close at noon. Charlie James: Yes. Becky McLaughlin: So that's very close to noon. And, um, we know that it has to do with the rule change that the Republican Party passed on June 27th. So it has to do with the qualifications of a candidate. No candidate was mentioned. Charlie James: Right. Becky McLaughlin: We don't know the content or the focus of the meeting, but we can surmise— Charlie James: Yes. Becky McLaughlin: —that perhaps we're going to be discussing the qualifications of a certain candidate. Charlie James: Yes, now there really should be—I don't know if you've if you've heard about this, but there should be two candidates that should be looked at uh tomorrow. One of them is is uh uh let's see, uh where is he? Um— Becky McLaughlin: Roger Fry? Charlie James: No no no no no no. Um— Becky McLaughlin: Russell Fry. Charlie James: Clark Nelsen. Clark Nelsen lives in Charlotte! Becky McLaughlin: Oh, right! Yeah. Charlie James: Yeah, so but anyways, but we can we can all surmise this is going to have to do um with Darlene Graham because, and just to let everybody know, what several weeks ago they reconvened the South Carolina GOP in Columbia. The executives went there, Executive Committee members went there, the ECs, and they decided that in order to be eligible to run for office, you have to have voted in two out of the last three statewide primaries unless you get a waiver from the Executive Committee or your county's Executive Committee, right? Becky McLaughlin: No, not the county—the county committee cannot waive if you are statewide. Charlie James: Okay, but like like like just for a county um candidate? Becky McLaughlin: For a county position, yes. For a county position, we can waive. Charlie James: Yeah, okay okay. Becky McLaughlin: Yeah. Yeah. Charlie James: So, um, have you talked with other ECs? Do you know how they're going to—I mean, do we think this isn't going to pass? Becky McLaughlin: This is hot off the press. I just got it, and I said, "I think I'll call Charlie James and give him the scoop." Charlie James: Well, I appreciate that. Becky McLaughlin: So you've got the scoop. You're welcome. Charlie James: Oh. Becky McLaughlin: And, um, I don't know, and it's really hard to know how everybody else is going to vote because we have such a large con- a large group of ECs— Charlie James: Yeah. Becky McLaughlin: —that are very much devoted to the establishment in Columbia. Charlie James: Yeah, they are. Becky McLaughlin: Will they vote with the establishment or will they vote with their heart to do the best thing for South Carolina? It's hard to say. I don't know. The South Carolina delegation voted no on the rule change, and I voted no on the rule change at the EC meeting, which preceded the convention. I will vote no on whichever candidate they would like to apply this rule change to, because I think the rule change is bad. Charlie James: Okay. All right, well, Becky, we will certainly wait and see what happens at 11:45 tomorrow. We appreciate it. Thank you so much. Becky McLaughlin: I will let you know! Charlie James: Thank you. Take care of yourself, and make sure you tell that crazy husband of yours I said hey. So, um, what's going to happen tomorrow? That's the thing. Now, do I believe that Darlene Graham is going to be the candidate, going to be a a a candidate for—yeah, absolutely I do. I do. It's just way too many people. Listen, ...

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