2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina

none March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina South Carolina presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in South Carolina 2002 2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina 2014 November 4, 2008 Lindsey Graham, US Senate Portrait (cropped).jpg 150x150px Lindsey Graham Republican Party (United States) 1,076,150 57.52% 3x4.svg Bob Conley Democratic Party (United States) 790,216 42.25% 230px County results 230px Congressional district results 230px Precinct results 1 230px Graham: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #C21b18 80–90% #A80000 >90% Conley: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% #0D0596 >90% U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Republican Party (United States) Lindsey Graham Republican Party (United States) The 2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham won election to a second term.US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham. WBTV 3 News. June 16, 2008. Accessed November 17, 20082008 General election statewide results. South Carolina State Election Commission. Accessed November 17, 2008. Republican primary Candidates Tim Carnes,Tim Carnes former pastor Lindsey Graham, incumbent U.S. senator Buddy Witherspoon, former national committeeman of the South Carolina Republican Party Polling Source Date Graham Witherspoon CarnesPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 17, 2008 52% 5% 4% Results thumb|2008 Republican primary results #E27F7F Graham #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #FACA33 Witherspoon #FACA33 50–60% 2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary electionhttps://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/4186/7382/en/summary.html 2008 Republican and Democratic Primary South Carolina State Election Commission June 27, 2008 Republican Party (United States) Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 187,736 66.84% Republican Party (United States) Buddy Witherspoon 93,125 33.16% 280,861 100.00% Democratic primary Candidates Bob Conley, pilot Michael Cone, attorney Campaign Conley, a conservative Democrat, supported ending illegal immigration, "protecting American workers," bringing American troops home from the Iraq War, increasing veterans' benefits, reducing American dependence on foreign oil, tougher regulations on Wall Street (bringing back Glass-Steagall), ending Wall Street bailouts, repealing the Patriot Act, "cutting spending," and "fidelity to the Constitution."Hunter Jack June 18, 2008 Democrat Bob Conley offers conservatives a real choice in November http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A47105 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080903103358/http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A47105 September 3, 2008 Charleston City Paper Wayback Machine He also opposed same-sex marriage.The Issues http://aimhighwithbob.com/?page_id=2 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081031225538/http://aimhighwithbob.com/?page_id=2 October 31, 2008 November 29, 2008 Bob Conley for U.S. Senate mdy-all Michael Cone, Conley's primary opponent, criticized Conley for being too conservative, saying, "We've nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary." Conley was a Republican but left the party due to frustration over immigration, trade, and the Iraq War. Some compared him to Republican Congressman Ron Paul, as Conley supported Paul in his presidential campaign.Elonkey. Bob Conley: "The Ron Paul Democrat" https://web.archive.org/web/20080918094459/http://elonkey.blogspot.com/2008/06/bob-conley-ron-paul-democrat.html September 18, 2008 June 23, 2008 Results thumb|Results by county: #678cd7 Conley—60–70% #8da9e2 Conley—50–60% #3fa457 Cone—60–70% #73bc84 Cone—50–60% Conley defeated Cone in the primary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham. WBTV 3 News. 2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary electionhttps://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/6065/7400/en/summary.html RECOUNT - 2008 Republican and Democratic Primary South Carolina State Election Commission July 1, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Bob Conley 74,185 50.36% Democratic Party (United States) Michael Cone 73,127 49.64% 147,312 100.00% General election Candidates Bob Conley (D), pilot Lindsey Graham (R), incumbent U.S. senator Campaign Conley, who had switched to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party,Graham's Dem challenger was SC county GOP official. International Herald Tribune, June 20, 2008. Accessed November 17, 2008 was opposed by much of the Democratic establishment because of his controversial positions, such as his vocal opposition to immigration reform and same-sex marriage and his support of Ron Paul's presidential bid. A number of prominent Democratic figures in the state, including U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn, supported Lindsey Graham over Conley in the general election.Graham easily wins second term.August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes The State, November 5, 2008. Accessed November 17, 2008. Political scientist Bill Moore claimed, "The bottom line is, by not paying attention to this race, they ended up embarrassed by what has transpired: a Republican getting the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate and a Republican who comes across as even more conservative than Lindsey Graham." Graham had $3.8 million. He spent more time on the campaign trail for John McCain than he did defending his own seat. Conley only raised $23,628 during the campaign. Conley was so unknown that even Graham admitted "Almost no one knows my opponent. The Democrats really didn't field a — make a serious challenge — in terms of trying to find an opponent for me."Republican Graham aims to turn aside Dem challenge | SCNOWJune 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes Despite Conley's landslide defeat, he is the last Democrat to carry McCormick County in a Senate election as of 2023. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 The Cook Political Report April 1, 2021 June 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625160336/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 dead Safe ROctober 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 CQ Politics Safe ROctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Safe RNovember 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html Real Clear Politics August 31, 2021 Safe RNovember 4, 2008 Polling Poll Source Dates administered Conley GrahamPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 9–11, 2008 32% 54%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 18, 2008 41% 50%Survey USASurvey USA September 21–22, 2008 40% 54%Survey USASurvey USA October 12–13, 2008 40% 56%Survey USASurvey USA October 28–29, 2008 39% 58% Results General election resultshttps://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/8562/15723/en/summary.html 2008 General Election South Carolina State Election Commission June 1, 2009 Republican Party (United States) Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 1,076,534 57.52% +3.1% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Conley 790,621 42.25% -1.9% 4,276 0.23% +0.1% 1,871,431 100.00% 285,913 15.27% Republican Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Calhoun (largest town: St. Matthews) Darlington (largest city: Hartsville) Dillon (largest city: Dillon) Abbeville (largest city: Abbeville) Chesterfield (largest city: Cheraw) Lancaster (largest city: Lancaster) See also 2008 United States Senate elections 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina References External links South Carolina State Election Commission https://web.archive.org/web/20141020110542/http://www.scvotes.org/ October 20, 2014 U.S. Congress candidates for South Carolina at Project Vote Smart South Carolina, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics South Carolina U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Graham (R-i) vs Conley (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites (archived) Lindsey Graham Bob Conley John J. Cina 2008 South Carolina United States Senate