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Budget Chair Will Run Again

March 30, 2010    Content provided by DDC Advocacy

A great deal of speculation surrounding House Budget Committee Chair John Spratt (D-SC) was quelled yesterday. With out of control spending and record national deficits, many believed that the Budget chair, a veteran of 28 years in Congress and an inviting Republican target especially in conservative South Carolina, would call it quits. In the face of all the retirement talk, Mr. Spratt officially announced on Monday that he will, in fact, run for a 15th term despite having to traverse what might be a rocky political path before him.

The Congressman has won several tough races during his long career, including fending off a most recent stiff challenge from GOP state Senator Ralph Norman (2006: Spratt won 57-43%), so he's no stranger to fire and brimstone politics. The Democrat's greatest political strength, aside from his long-term incumbency, is that his 5th congressional district - northern tier of the Palmetto State, dominated by the Charlotte, NC suburbs - is almost 1/3 African American. A strong turnout from this most loyal of Democratic constituencies is paramount to Rep. Spratt winning again in what is shaping up to be a strong Republican year throughout the state. The GOP candidate is highly touted state Sen. Mick Mulvaney. The SC-5 campaign will be one to watch in 2010, and its results could have national implications. If the race becomes a referendum on government spending, the outcome could be a harbinger for the handling of fiscal issues in the 112th Congress.