Republican leaders are organizing a pro-Bernie effort in SC's open primary

[OnDoutside]

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https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/upstate-gop-leaders-plotting-to-meddle-in-sc-democratic-primary/article_f1e7abd2-4788-11ea-aa9f-33a1d262994c.html

COLUMBIA — A group of prominent Upstate Republicans is preparing to launch a wide-scale effort this week to encourage GOP voters across South Carolina to vote for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Feb. 29 Democratic primary, The Post and Courier has learned.

The Republican plan to impact the Democratic race, emerging just weeks before the “First in the South” primary, has two goals: Boost the candidate who the Republicans believe presents the weakest general election threat to President Donald Trump and pressure Democrats to support closing state primaries in the future.

South Carolina has open primaries, meaning voters do not have to register by party and can participate in either party’s contest. But some conservative activists have long pushed to change that, arguing it would ensure a more pure party process, and they are hoping this effort will win over Democrats to that cause.

The S.C. GOP executive committee voted last year to forgo its 2020 presidential primary, so the Democratic election will be the only one held Feb. 29.

Greenville GOP chairman Nate Leupp, Spartanburg GOP chairman Curtis Smith, Anderson GOP chairwoman Cheryl Cuthrell and the leaders of multiple tea party activist groups in the Upstate are behind the effort to undermine the Democratic race, with other officials still considering joining them.

[cannabis_flower]

1. Maybe

They should be careful what they wish for.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. BIIIIIINNGGOOOOO!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[LanternWaste]

3. Bingo- just like the suRGe!!! eh?

Those accurate prophecies of yours just keep on writing themselves.

[redstatebluegirl]

5. No they know, he will get smacked down. He has zero chance in a general.

He is their candidate of choice.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. That may be so

Like his personality or not, Bernie has a similar us vs them populist appeal as Trump. But for Bernie it's "us" vs the rich and powerful while Trump's "us" is white people vs "the other". It will be fascinating to see if these "grievance voters" hate rich/powerful people or "other people" more.

[redqueen]

9. I've had that same thought, kinda like when Trump was cast as the "pied Piper" candidate.

But one important difference is that Trump was an outsider.

Bernie is not. He had a lifetime in politics, little to show for it, has reportedly helped enrich his family members using his position, and he's going to be painted as a scary socialist.

I hope he's not our nominee.

[comradebillyboy]

12. Got to agree with you here.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

4. Two billboards already and local talk radio

Ramping up Sander's is a communist these idiots have bypassed socialist.

Good luck here Bernie

[cannabis_flower]

6. Joe may have a real problem in the South

South Carolina isn't the only open primary state in the South or the rest of the country for that matter. And since Trump doesn't have a real opponent there's really no reason for Repute to vote in their own primary.

Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
Georgia
Illinois[14]
Indiana
Massachusetts (Primaries open for "unenrolled"/unaffiliated voters only)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
New Hampshire (Primaries open for “undeclared”/unaffiliated voters only)
North Carolina (Primaries open for unaffiliated voters only)[15]
North Dakota
Ohio (semi-open) [16]
Oklahoma (Only Democratic primary is open to Independent voters as of November 2015) [17]
South Carolina
South Dakota (Only Democratic primary is open to Independent voters as of November 2018)
Tennessee
Texas
Utah (for the Democratic Presidential Primary)[18]
Vermont
Virginia
Washington (state)[19]
Wisconsin[20]


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_primaries_in_the_United_States#States_with_an_open_presidential_primary

[duforsure]

8. That's sounding like they're working for Putin

Creating chaos, and division, just like they promoted putins propaganda with the Ukraine stuff.

[ibegurpard]

10. voting for your preferred opponent in the opposite primary

often has a way of backfiring on you

[R B Garr]

11. Well, there you go. They obviously see the divisiveness and just love it.

Again.

[booley]

13. Maybe we should not worry about what concern trolls are doing

Is it possible the goal of this is not to support Bernie Sanders to be nominated?

Is it possible the goal is to cause chaos and division within the Democratic party?

That the GOP knows very well Centrist Dems will see this and immediately use it to attack Sanders and his supporters, furthering division. Which means you all are falling for it because that looks like what is exactly going on here right now.

[corbettkroehler]

14. Won't Matter Either Way

Link to tweet