Mark Lynch discusses running in the SC Republican primary for US Senate.

What this episode covers

Tara Servatius: Joining me now is Mark Lynch, who I understand is definitely in running again for the Lindsey Graham seat. Good morning. Mark Lynch: Good morning, Tara. Tara Servatius: So you are definitely in the race, sir? Mark Lynch: That's correct. Tara Servatius: And the first poll I've seen on this just came out from Emerson—it's not a huge poll, it's only 500 people—but it looks like you are in second place right now behind Ralph Norman. I think he's at 16% and you're at 13%. How do you feel about your chances in this race? Mark Lynch: Very good. You know, we started this over two years ago when the people of South Carolina and God called us into this race. And so we're... we didn't just jump in; we've been in. And nobody's achieved a 30% penetration like we did, and nobody's run against Lindsey Graham that could really, truly challenge him. I did, and we did very well. And so our constituents and voters and donors are asking us to get back in and finish it, and they're supporting us still, and a lot of people are coming over that see the differences in what I can do. So we're in it. Tara Servatius: What did you learn from your first round against Lindsey Graham? Is there anything you'd do differently in this race? Mark Lynch: Well, I'll tell you what we learned with the past first primary we ran, Tara, was how much the machine and Lindsey tried to stop us, spending over $50 million with the most disgusting, vulgar, lying campaign ever, probably in any election. Tara Servatius: Wait, wait, wait. That was $50 million? I know there were a ton of ads. They spent $50 million? Mark Lynch: Our resources are adding a lot of that up, and with all the PAC money and everything that came in, that's what the numbers kind of looking like that we uncovered. Tara Servatius: Wow. Well, do you mind if I ask what you spent? It'll end up being in your campaign reports. Mark Lynch: Yeah, we spent over $5 million of our own retirement funds. Tara Servatius: Jeez! Oh man. So you are definitely committed. Do you... do you mind me asking—I assume that you do—do you have enough funds to sustain you through this race? It's probably going to be a couple million more. Mark Lynch: Yes. And you know, donations are starting to come in again, and we haven't even hardly solicited for that yet. And, uh, it's happening, you know. I... You know, I supported Ralph Norman for governor, and he ran on term limits, and a lot of people are asking why... why would a House rep that just ran for governor jump in this? You know, that doesn't sound like term limits. People are asking that question. You know, a lot of people have said, "Mark came in second place, he's the logical guy we should support, and we need a fresh face, an outsider that's not a career politician, somebody that's a finisher that'll fight." And that's me, and that's why we're back in it, because we've been in it. You know, all these other people are jumping in now that Lindsey's not there, and you know, that's easy. I showed I'm willing to do the hard stuff and fight up against the machine and do what's necessary to bring change for South Carolina and D.C. Tara Servatius: We don't know, Mark Lynch, who's going to get in yet, and I can't wait to find that out over the next week. I think it's going to be interesting; I think there'll be... it wouldn't surprise me if some folk showed up that haven't showed up before. And what we saw in the governor's race was conservatives split the vote amongst themselves and got, you know, pretty much exactly nowhere. Should there be some kind of gentlemen's agreement between conservatives in this race for one of you guys to drop out, or two or three, so that the vote doesn't get split again and put the, you know, the machine back in power by default? Mark Lynch: Well, yeah. I mean... I mean, nobody's approaching me. I'm being treated like I'm not even in the race by the Republican Party and everybody, you know. They're not acknowledging me th ...

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