 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Congressional district results Precinct resultsGraham: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Conley: 40-50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
The2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of theUnited States Senate to represent theState of South Carolina. IncumbentRepublicanU.S. SenatorLindsey Graham won election to a second term.[1][2]
| Source | Date | Graham | Witherspoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[3] | January 17, 2008 | 52% | 5% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lindsey Graham (incumbent) | 187,736 | 66.84% | |
| Republican | Buddy Witherspoon | 93,125 | 33.16% | |
| Total votes | 280,861 | 100.00% | ||
Conley, a conservative Democrat, supported endingillegal immigration, "protecting American workers," bringing American troops home from theIraq War, increasing veterans' benefits, reducingAmerican dependence on foreign oil, tougher regulations on Wall Street (bringing back Glass-Steagall), ending Wall Street bailouts, repealing thePatriot Act, "cutting spending," and "fidelity to the Constitution."[5] He also opposedsame-sex marriage.[6]
Michael Cone, Conley's primary opponent, criticized Conley for being too conservative, that "We've nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary." Conley was a Republican but left the party due to frustration over immigration, trade, and theIraq War. Some compared him to Republican CongressmanRon Paul, as Conley supported Paul inhis presidential campaign.[5][7]
Conley defeated Cone in theprimary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bob Conley | 74,185 | 50.36% | |
| Democratic | Michael Cone | 73,127 | 49.64% | |
| Total votes | 147,312 | 100.00% | ||
Conley, who had switched to the Democratic Party from the Republican Party,[10] 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 ofRon Paul's presidential bid. A number of prominent Democratic figures in the state, including U.S. CongressmanJim Clyburn, supported Lindsey Graham over Conley in the general election.[11] Political scientistBill 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. In fact, he spent more time on the campaign trail forJohn McCain than he has 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."[12]
Despite Conley's landslide defeat, he is the last Democrat to carryMcCormick County in a Senate election as of 2023.
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[13] | Safe R | October 23, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[14] | Safe R | October 31, 2008 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[15] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[16] | Safe R | November 4, 2008 |
| Poll Source | Dates administered | Conley | Graham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[17] | July 9–11, 2008 | 32% | 54% |
| Rasmussen Reports[18] | September 18, 2008 | 41% | 50% |
| Survey USA[19] | September 21–22, 2008 | 40% | 54% |
| Survey USA[20] | October 12–13, 2008 | 40% | 56% |
| Survey USA[21] | October 28–29, 2008 | 39% | 58% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lindsey Graham (incumbent) | 1,076,534 | 57.52% | +3.1% | |
| Democratic | Bob Conley | 790,621 | 42.25% | −1.9% | |
| Write-in | 4,276 | 0.23% | +0.1% | ||
| Total votes | 1,871,431 | 100.00% | |||
| Majority | 285,913 | 15.27% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
.jpg)
