Clyburn's Dem Challenger Denies He's A 'Plant' -- But Hired GOP Rep.'s Aide

[babylonsister]

Curiouser and curiouser...

Clyburn's Dem Challenger Denies He's A 'Plant' -- But Hired GOP Rep.'s Aide
Christina Bellantoni and Justin Elliott | June 11, 2010, 12:43PM


A Democratic primary challenger in South Carolina who has been accused of being a "plant" hired for his Congressional campaign a GOP consultant who as recently as late last year was the campaign manager for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), according to campaign finance reports.

Businessman Gregory Brown says he challenged Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress, in the Democratic primary on Tuesday because he's worried about the state's poverty rates and failing schools. Clyburn (D-SC) charged this week that Brown is such a political novice that he must be a "plant."

Brown told TPM in an interview he was a legitimate candidate being targeted because he challenged a powerful incumbent. But his Federal Election Commission filings show his largest campaign payment was to a firm run by a GOP political consultant who is best known as Wilson's former campaign manager and who currently works for other South Carolina Republicans.

Brown's campaign paid Stonewall Strategies nearly $24,000 for "marketing" and "marketing materials," according to his 2010 campaign finance reports. The firm is run by former Wilson aide Preston Grisham.

TPM took a look at Brown, who lost with 10 percent of the vote on Tuesday, after Clyburn asserted his candidacy might not be legitimate. The dust-up in South Carolina comes as a Democratic Senate candidate, Alvin Greene, won the party's nomination without ever having run a campaign. Clyburn suggested Greene could be part of a nefarious plot that would also include Brown, and another Democrat, Ben Frasier, who won the primary in the 1st Congressional district.

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/clyburns_dem_challenger_denies_hes_a_plant_--_but.php?ref=fpblg

[Jennicut]

1. WTF is in the water in SC? Rethugs seem to do whatever they want there, it seems.

[glitch]

2. I'd make sure the vote count wasn't tampered with if I was Clyburn. nt