Changes

Watson ran [[television]] advertisements featuring scenes from riots which occurred five years earlier in Watts, [[Los Angeles]]. The spots became so controversial that the Republican mayor of Greenville, Reginald Cooper White, Jr. (1927-2017), cited them in his refusal to endorse Watson.<ref>''The Changing Politics of Race,'' p. 233.</ref> White's criticism alarmed Republicans who feared that Watson had painted himself into a minority ultra-conservative position. ''The Florence Morning News'' accused him of waging a "negative campaign" focusing on "those who stand for racial segregation above all else." The newspaper labeled the racial issue "phony" because Watson as governor would be "unable to turn back the clock ... and is powerless to defy the federal courts."<ref>''Florence Morning News,'' October 19, 1970.</ref>

Watson ran [[television]] advertisements featuring scenes from riots which occurred five years earlier in Watts, [[Los Angeles]]. The spots became so controversial that the Republican mayor of Greenville, Reginald Cooper White, Jr. (1927-2017), cited them in his refusal to endorse Watson.<ref>''The Changing Politics of Race,'' p. 233.</ref> White's criticism alarmed Republicans who feared that Watson had painted himself into a minority ultra-conservative position. ''The Florence Morning News'' accused him of waging a "negative campaign" focusing on "those who stand for racial segregation above all else." The newspaper labeled the racial issue "phony" because Watson as governor would be "unable to turn back the clock ... and is powerless to defy the federal courts."<ref>''Florence Morning News,'' October 19, 1970.</ref>

   

   

Stressing "quality education" amid desegregation, Watson promised "some hope to our beleagurered students, teachers, and parents." He praised President Nixon for having opposed "busing for racial balance" and for having supported "neighborhood schools." He accused the Democrats of "surrender on the issue" of [[Desegregation busing in the United States|forced busing]]. West claimed that politics should be removed from the desegregation question and pledged never to "inflame or polarize class against class, rich against poor, or color against color," adding that the days of "magnolias, segregation, and discrimination" were history.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 234</ref>

Stressing "quality education" amid desegregation, Watson promised "some hope to our beleagurered students, teachers, and parents." He praised President Nixon for having opposed "busing for racial balance" and for having supported "neighborhood schools." He accused the Democrats of "surrender on the issue" of compulsory busing.. West claimed that politics should be removed from the desegregation question and pledged never to "inflame or polarize class against class, rich against poor, or color against color," adding that the days of "magnolias, segregation, and discrimination" were history.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 234</ref>

In the fall of 1970, the campaign focused on racial unrest at institutions such as [[A.C. Flora High School]] in [[Forest Acres, South Carolina|Forest Acres]] in Richland County. Watson questioned why a pupil was merely suspended for five days after striking a teacher; to Watson, the action was "not punishment but a reward. ... Education without discipline is worse than no education at all."<ref>''Columbia State'', October 6, 1970; ''Aiken Standard'', October 9, 1970; ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal|Spartanburg Journal]]'', October 26, 1970</ref>''The Columbia Record'' dismissed discipline as a problem and stressed an "egalitarian philosophy ... that lifts the dignity of all individuals, rather than aristocratically elevating the few."<ref>''Columbia Record,'' November 6, 1970.</ref>The ''Spartanburg Journal'' urged Watson to omit desegregation from campaign discussions and instead to accent matters over which a governor would have more direct control."<ref>''Spartanburg Journal,'' October 26, 1970.</ref>

In the fall of 1970, the campaign focused on racial unrest at institutions such as A.C. Flora High School in Forest Acres in Richland County. Watson questioned why a pupil was merely suspended for five days after striking a teacher; to Watson, the action was "not punishment but a reward. ... Education without discipline is worse than no education at all."<ref>''Columbia State,'' October 6, 1970; ''Aiken Standard,'' October 9, 1970; ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal,'' October 26, 1970<./ref>''The Columbia Record'' dismissed discipline as a problem and stressed an "egalitarian philosophy ... that lifts the dignity of all individuals, rather than aristocratically elevating the few."<ref>''Columbia Record,'' November 6, 1970.</ref>The ''Spartanburg Journal'' urged Watson to omit desegregation from campaign discussions and instead to accent matters over which a governor would have more direct control."<ref>''Spartanburg Journal,'' October 26, 1970.</ref>

When denounced as a "racist," Watson replied that he had raised funds for the historically black Allen University in Columbia and had as a congressman named several African American applicants to the national military academies. "Apparently, it is not racism for the other side to make deals to get the bloc vote, but it is racism to tell the people ... the truth about these deals," Watson replied.<ref>''Charlotte Observer,'' September 22, 1970; ''The New York Times,'' October 4, 1970, p. 33; ''Charleston News & Courier,'' October 1, 1970.</ref>Republican State Chairman Raymond Alexander Harris, Sr. (1927-2016), claimed that Democratic officeholders in South Carolina largely owed their existence to support from black voters.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>

When denounced as a "racist," Watson replied that he had raised funds for the historically black Allen University in Columbia and had as a congressman named several African American applicants to the national military academies. "Apparently, it is not racism for the other side to make deals to get the bloc vote, but it is racism to tell the people ... the truth about these deals," Watson replied.<ref>''Charlotte Observer,'' September 22, 1970; ''The New York Times,'' October 4, 1970, p. 33; ''Charleston News & Courier,'' October 1, 1970.</ref>Republican state Chairman Raymond Alexander Harris, Sr. (1927-2016), claimed that Democratic officeholders in South Carolina largely owed their existence to support from black voters.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>

==Gubernatorial campaign issues==

==Gubernatorial campaign issues==