South-Carolina
If Trump goes scorched-earth on Haley, it’ll be nothing new for South Carolina – The Boston Globe
For a state with a lengthy history of dirty politics, the 2000 primary is widely considered the low point. Now that title could be up for grabs.
Former president Donald Trump aims to knock former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley out of the Republican presidential race in her home state’s primary on Feb. 24. And his no-holds-barred approach paired with South Carolina’s anything-goes reputation could be a combustible combination.
“I think he’s going to use it as a license to be even uglier,” said Chip Felkel, a longtime South Carolina Republican consultant. “We’re going to hear about her ethnicity. We’re going to hear this allegation and that allegation . . . we’re probably going to hear a lot of innuendo.”
But Trump and his campaign advisers, who have publicly said Haley should prepare to be “absolutely demolished” in South Carolina, could overplay their hand, Felkel said — even in a state accustomed to scorched-earth politics.
“With a very, very long and justified reputation for being a bare-knuckled state, I think he could take that the wrong way and go too far,” Felkel said. “The risk he’s running is offending, and then motivating, a segment of the electorate that would vote for her.”
Haley has a sense of what she could be facing after being called a “raghead” and hit with allegations of two extramarital affairs during her successful 2010 campaign for governor. Haley denied the allegations, which resurfaced in January.
“Politics in South Carolina has a sad reputation as a blood sport,” she wrote in her 2012 memoir, “Can’t Is Not An Option: My American Story.”
The rotten roots can be traced back to South Carolina Republican operative Lee Atwater.
He was infamous for stoking racial fears in the 1988 presidential campaign with what became an infamous general election ad against Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis. It featured Willie Horton, a Black man convicted of raping a white woman while furloughed from a Massachusetts prison when Dukakis was governor. Atwater later said he had vowed to “strip the bark off the little bastard” and “make Willie Horton his running mate.”
Atwater had honed dark political arts in his home state. During a 1980 congressional campaign, he dismissed the Democratic nominee, Tom Turnipseed, a candidate who had spoken openly about receiving electroshock treatments for depression when he was a teenager, as someone who had been “hooked up to jumper cables.”
“I definitely think the national reputation we’ve had for rough politics probably comes as much from Atwater as anybody else,” said Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Atwater had engineered South Carolina’s shift to an early primary state in 1980, raising the stakes there and fueling the growth of a political consultant industry that used his tactics as its template, said Wesley Donehue, another longtime Republican consultant in the state.
“South Carolina became like the last stand in every race, and by our Southern nature, we’re probably a little more aggressive than those folks up in Iowa and New Hampshire,” Donehue said. “All the other consultants kind of took their lead from him. They were kind of disciples of Atwater.”
South Carolina politics took on Atwater’s style: combative and creative, with seemingly no limits.
In a 1990 congressional race, Rod Shealy, a Republican consultant and Atwater protégé, tried to exploit racial bias and drive up white turnout in a key part of the state for his sister’s lieutenant governor bid by helping pay for a Black fisherman to run for Congress. Shealy later was fined $500 for a campaign finance violation related to the incident.
It wasn’t the only time an unlikely candidate turned up in a South Carolina race.
In 2010, Alvin Greene stunningly won the Democratic primary to take on incumbent Republican Senator Jim DeMint without appearing to campaign at all. An unknown Army veteran, his name was listed first on the ballot alphabetically. After his victory, news broke that he was facing obscenity charges. Representative Jim Clyburn suggested at the time that Greene was “a Republican plant,” which Greene denied. DeMint sailed to victory.
The importance of the South Carolina presidential primary continued to fuel underhanded campaigning.
As the 2008 Republican primary approached, some voters received a Christmas card purporting to be from the family of Mitt Romney, who is Mormon, that included the line, “We have now clearly shown that God the Father had a plurality of wives.” In 2012, fliers were placed on the windshields of cars at an antiabortion event targeting the wife of Rick Santorum for an affair she had before she married him with a doctor who performed abortions.
“It is a very tough environment,” Felkel said. “I was quoted many years ago as saying, ‘Bring your big boy pants,’ because it’s not for the faint of heart.”
Felkel worked for Atwater early in his career and said he “learned a lot.”
“He was brilliant. He made mistakes. He realized it in the end,” Felkel said. As Atwater was dying from a brain tumor in the early 1990s, he apologized to Turnipseed and the public for some of his actions.
Still, the Atwater playbook stayed in place. But it might be losing its effectiveness, Vinson said, citing Haley’s victory in the 2010 governor’s race.
“There were some really nasty ugly personal attacks against her during that campaign, and it ultimately, I think, helped her in the long run,” Vinson said. “There were a lot of people that felt like she wasn’t being given a fair shot.”
But in Donehue’s view, the state’s tolerance for political dirt has only grown. He said Haley will try to play the victim in her race against Trump but that he doesn’t think it will help her in South Carolina.
“There’s going to be no backlash to getting nasty here,” Donehue said. “The state is used to it.”
And with the rise since 2000 of the 24-hour cable news cycle, social media, and finally of Trump’s flame-throwing style, he argued the state is no longer such an outlier. You can see comments as bad as the illegitimate child attack on McCain or the raghead slur against Haley every day on X and other platforms, Donehue noted.
“Politics,” he said, “has caught up with South Carolina.”
Jim Puzzanghera can be reached at jim.puzzanghera@globe.com. Follow him @JimPuzzanghera.
The South Carolina Buc-ee’s is off Interstate 95 in Florence. The interstate also cuts through North Carolina.
The 53,000-square-foot outlet that opened in 2022 draws customers from North Carolina, which has not had a Buc-ee’s. But that’s about to change, after the Texas-based chain broke ground Wednesday on a location in Mebane.
For travelers, there’s a lot of reasons to stop at the store. For instance, there’s the 120 gas pumps. And electric charging stations.
Most folks, though, want to know what to expect when they go inside. Beverly Mahone, a writing consultant from Durham, was a recent visitor to the Florence Buc-ee’s.
“A Target, WalMart, gas station all rolled into one,” she said. “There’s so much, from the moment we got into the parking lot.”
“We were greeted immediately,” she said. “Soon as we walked in the door, someone said, ‘Welcome to Buc-ee’s.’ And that was a good impression to me.”
Many people say their nose attracts them right to the center of the store. There’s food, food, food, and a treasure trove of jerky.
“There was many different types of jerky that I had never imagined they could make jerky,” Mahone said. “You know, there was garlic parmesan, and then there was some jalapeño honey.”
Managers say whatever travelers need, they find here.
“We should be able to take care of everybody in that car that’s out on the road,” said Kirk Boerner. He’s the district manager for Buc-ee’s.
“Different things from barbecue to chicken tenders, to dessert cups, package candy,” he said. “Whatever you want for your trip, we’re going to have at Buc-ee’s.”
Construction on the Mebane store is expected to finish in 2027. It will be bigger than the Florence outlet, at 74,000 square feet.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (South Carolina Athletics) – Kevin Schnall has been named the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina, Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati announced today (Wednesday, June 10). Schnall becomes the 33rd head coach in the history of Gamecock baseball. A public event designed to introduce Coach Schnall to the community will be announced shortly.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Schnall and his family to South Carolina as the leader of our baseball program,” said Donati. “Kevin has demonstrated excellence as a leader, coach, recruiter, and developer of student-athletes throughout his career, and we are incredibly happy to have him lead our baseball program into the future. The passion, vision and energy he brings will elevate our program and put us in position to be successful at the highest level. We are looking forward to this new era of Gamecock baseball and we know our fans will be excited by the brand of baseball his teams play – fundamentally sound, relentlessly competitive, and with great energy and enthusiasm.”
Schnall comes to Columbia after spending more than 20 years at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., the final two as the head coach of the Chanticleers. Schnall guided CCU to a national runner-up finish in 2025, winning the Conway Regional, the Auburn Super Regional and the CWS championship series. For his accomplishments during the 2025 season, Schnall was named Baseball America’s College Coach of the Year, Perfect Game Coach of the Year, Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year and ABCA/ATEC Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
“Today is a humbling and exciting day for my family and me,” Schnall said. “To leave the place that has been home for 25 years, it had to be the perfect opportunity at the perfect time. That is exactly what the University of South Carolina represents. This program embodies everything that is great about college baseball with a championship tradition, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence. I am grateful for the trust placed in us and we promise to build a program founded on development, accountability and an unwavering pursuit of championships. We are excited to get to Columbia and begin this next chapter together.
“Our connection to the state of South Carolina is unmatched and that will be the foundation of our recruiting efforts. We will work tirelessly to build a roster that reflects the pride and talent that exist throughout this great state. Relationships matter, and we will invest in them every day. Lastly, I cannot thank Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati, Chief of Staff Tyson Lusk, and President Michael Amiridis enough for the opportunity to lead Gamecock baseball. Together, we will work relentlessly to build this program to the championship standard that Gamecock fans expect and deserve. The work begins immediately!”
Schnall was named the Chanticleers’ head coach on June 10, 2024, succeeding longtime Hall of Fame head coach Gary Gilmore. In his debut season as a college head coach in 2025, Schnall led Coastal Carolina to a nation-leading and school-record 56 victories, Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and a run to the Men’s College World Series Finals, immediately establishing himself among the nation’s elite head coaches.
The Chanticleers posted a 56-13 overall record, including a dominant 26-4 mark in Sun Belt play, setting a new program record for wins in a single season. Coastal swept both the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships before embarking on a deep postseason run on the national stage.
Schnall became just the fourth head coach to lead his team to the Men’s College World Series in his first season as a college head coach, joining Dan McDonnell at Louisville (2007), Mike Martin at Florida State (1980), and Cliff Gustafson at Texas (1968). Coastal’s victory over Louisville made Schnall the only one of those four to win his College World Series debut. He also became the only first-year head coach to win his first eight NCAA Tournament games. His 56 victories were the most by a rookie head coach in Division I history, surpassing the previous high-water marks set by Mike Batesole at CSUN (52 wins in 1996) and Mike Martin at Florida State (51 wins in 1980).
The success of Schnall’s inaugural season was also reflected at the professional level, as four Chanticleers were selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Catcher Caden Bodine was taken in the first round as the No. 30 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles, while pitchers Jacob Morrison (third round, Milwaukee Brewers), Riley Eikhoff (ninth round, Chicago White Sox), and Matthew Potok (18th round, Philadelphia Phillies) were also selected.
Schnall’s ability to build and lead a championship-level staff was evident during the 2025 campaign. In his first year as head coach, he hired Matt Williams as pitching coach, a move that proved instrumental to the Chanticleers’ historic run. Williams was named the ABCA Division I Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year and the D1Baseball.com Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding a pitching staff that ranked among the nation’s best and led the Sun Belt Conference in both ERA and WHIP during Coastal’s College World Series run.
In 2026, Schnall and the Chants picked up 37 wins and a berth into the Tallahassee Regional despite an injury-riddled campaign that saw their top three pitchers miss time during the year. Coastal won 11 series in the regular season, including 16 consecutive Sun Belt series wins dating back to 2025. CCU picked up ranked wins over Ole Miss, Wake Forest and North Carolina as well as winning at Clemson in 2026.
Prior to his appointment as head coach, Schnall served as Coastal Carolina’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator from 2016 through the conclusion of the 2024 season. During that span, the Chanticleers established themselves as one of the nation’s most consistent and explosive programs, highlighted by the 2016 NCAA Division I National Championship.
Between his two stints at Coastal Carolina, Schnall spent three seasons at the University of Central Florida as an assistant coach, hitting instructor, and recruiting coordinator.
Schnall began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2001, serving as an assistant coach on Gary Gilmore’s staff for 12 seasons. During that span, the Chanticleers advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of 12 seasons, reached NCAA Super Regionals in 2008 and 2010, earned four No. 1 regional seeds, and were the No. 4 overall national seed in 2010.
A standout catcher for the Chanticleers from 1998–99, Schnall enjoyed one of the finest playing careers in program history. He was named the 1999 Big South Conference Player of the Year, became the program’s first NCBWA All-American with second-team honors, and was Coastal Carolina’s first and only finalist for the R.E. “Bob” Smith Award, presented annually to the nation’s College Player of the Year.
Schnall’s playing career began at Potomac State Junior College in West Virginia, where he was named All-Region both seasons. He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 25th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft and spent two seasons in the organization.
A native of Mercerville, N.J., Schnall was inducted into the George F. “Buddy” Sasser Athletics Hall of Fame at Coastal Carolina in 2005. He and his wife, Megan, have two daughters, Sydney and Fallon, and a son, Jayden.
To learn more about the Welcome Event, season ticket information or ways you can support the Gamecock Baseball program, visit our landing page: Head Baseball Coach Kevin Schnall
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Copyright 2026 WHNS. All rights reserved.
South-Carolina
Evette and Wilson advance to runoff for South Carolina governor while Graham clinches nomination
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a June runoff for the Republican nomination for South Carolina governor, while U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham won his own GOP primary outright Tuesday in his pursuit of a fifth term in November.
Trump early on gave his endorsement of Graham, a political confidant and regular golfing partner of the president, despite their on-again, off-again relationship. Graham also had secured the state’s leading Republicans, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Henry McMaster, to chair his 2026 run.
But Evette secured a runoff berth for governor only a week after garnering Trump’s endorsement. Meanwhile, Wilson moved ahead Tuesday to meet Evette in the June 23 primary. Others in the race included U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman. Mace quickly threw her support to Wilson for the upcoming primary.
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades, and Republicans in recent history typically have taken statewide seats by double-digit margins. When he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent by a 10 percentage point margin.
GOP governor candidates have played largely to Trump
Competition among Republicans for Trump’s support has seemed more intense than any other facet of the primary campaign.
Even before Evette received the president’s endorsement, she frequently featured photos and videos of herself with Trump in campaign materials. She was backed by McMaster, the term-limited outgoing governor, a longstanding ally of Trump whose support telegraphed the president’s own.
Mace also wanted Trump’s support, and he endorsed her congressional reelection in 2024 even though she criticized his actions of Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Norman, among the most conservative members of the House and a member of the Freedom Caucus, strongly supported Trump in the president’s first term. But in the 2024 campaign, Norman stumped for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley instead of Trump.
Rom Reddy, a coastal businessman who has eschewed campaign donations and self-funded his effort, has touted his lack of political experience as an asset, drawing comparisons between Trump and himself.
Graham, backed by Trump, hopes to bounce Lynch en route to 5th term
South Carolina’s other top contest Tuesday saw Graham clinching the Republican nomination without need of a runoff.
Although their relationship has undulated through the years, Graham has remained close with Trump, who fulfilled the senator’s longstanding wish for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Graham cheered Trump’s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and recently said he often speaks to the president about the ongoing conflict.
Among Graham’s primary foes was Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who said Graham wasn’t conservative enough to represent the state. Calling himself an “America First” candidate, Lynch campaigned as a Trump supporter, but on social media the president has called him a “lunatic” and a “disaster for the Republican Party.”
Winning statewide in November remains a tall order for SC Democrats
Democrats haven’t won the governor’s office or a Senate seat in South Carolina for decades and Republicans in recent history typically have taken statewide seats by double-digit margins.
On Tuesday, Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews has won South Carolina’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, bidding to block Graham from a fifth term. Andrews, who unsuccessfully ran against Mace in 2022, had challenged what she’s characterized as Graham’s waffling positions over the course of his political career.
Republicans in recent history typically take statewide seats by double-digit margins. And when he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, by a 10 percentage point margin.
Meanwhile, McMaster defeated his opponent by nearly 18 percentage points in 2022.
Some Democrats hope to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Trump this year.
In the governor’s race, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson advanced Tuesday to a Democratic primary runoff in the South Carolina governor’s race.
Johnson has represented a district in the Columbia area for three terms. Seen as a rising star in the state party, Johnson was tapped to give this year’s Democratic response to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster’s state of the state address.
The winner of the November general election will succeed McMaster, who has been in office since Nikki Haley left her term early to join the first Trump administration.
Democrats have not won a general election for governor in South Carolina since 1998, and Republicans have controlled all statewide-elected offices in the state for more than a decade.
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