Changes

Democrats charged that the opposition would spend $1.25 million in the 1970 campaign, compared to $350,000 for West and his lieutenant governor nominee, Earle Elias Morris, Jr. (1928-2011), of Pickens. State law at the time did not require financial disclosure, but it seems certain that the Watson-West race was the first in the state in which total party expenditures exceeded $1 million.<ref>''Columbia State,'' September 17, 1970.</ref>

Democrats charged that the opposition would spend $1.25 million in the 1970 campaign, compared to $350,000 for West and his lieutenant governor nominee, Earle Elias Morris, Jr. (1928-2011), of Pickens. State law at the time did not require financial disclosure, but it seems certain that the Watson-West race was the first in the state in which total party expenditures exceeded $1 million.<ref>''Columbia State,'' September 17, 1970.</ref>

   

   

Some viewed the South Carolina campaign as a referendum on President Nixon. According to the ''Anderson Independent,'' "Surely, the people will not be tricked again by the political snake oil salesman now occupying the White House," citing unfulfilled promises of "freedom-of-choice" on school desegregation and textile import relief.<ref>''Anderson Independent,'' October 25, 1970.</ref>''The Greenville News'' perceived the contest as a litmus test of whether South Carolina would be aligned with the Upland South or remain the easternmost of the Deep South states. The Upland or Upper South stressed economic development, education, health, and employment, whereas the Deep South was seen as race-conscious and status-quo oriented.<ref>''Greenville News,'' September 11, 1970.</ref>As the campaign ended, ''The Greenville News'' declared that West's victory moved South Carolina into the "Upper South" tier of states.<ref>''Greenville News,'' November 5, 1970.</ref>

Some viewed the South Carolina campaign as a referendum on President Nixon. According to the ''Anderson Independent,'' "Surely, the people will not be tricked again by the political snake oil salesman now occupying the White House," citing unfulfilled promises of "freedom-of-choice" on school desegregation and textile import relief.<ref>''Anderson Independent,'' October 25, 1970.</ref>''The Greenville News'' perceived the contest as a litmus test of whether South Carolina would be aligned with the Upland South or remain the easternmost of the Deep South states. The Upland or Upper South stressed economic development, education, health, and employment, whereas the Deep South was seen as race-conscious and status-quo oriented.<ref>''Greenville News,'' September 11, 1970.</ref>As the campaign ended, ''The Greenville News'' declared that West's victory moved South Carolina into the "Upper South" tier of states.<ref>''The Greenville News,'' November 5, 1970.</ref>

   

   

West accused Watson of making "reckless charges" without offering positive solutions: "I get resentful ... at those who talk down our state and have no positive plans or platform."<ref>''Columbia State'', October 16, 1970</ref>

West accused Watson of making "reckless charges" without offering positive solutions: "I get resentful ... at those who talk down our state and have no positive plans or platform."<ref>''Columbia State,'' October 16, 1970.</ref>

Watson's running mate, [[James M. Henderson|James Marvin Henderson, Sr.]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knowitall.org/legacy/laureates/james%20m.%20henderson%20.html|title=James M. Henderson|publisher=knowitall.org|accessdate=June 4, 2012}}</ref> an advertising executive from Greenville, former assistant [[Postmaster General]] of the United States, and the father-in-law of later U.S. Senator (since resigned) [[Jim DeMint]] of South Carolina, questioned West's rhetoric: Why, he asked, had family income in South Carolina declined over the previous two decades from 45th to 47th position nationally? Henderson also noted that average wages were higher in [[North Carolina]] or [[Georgia]] than in South Carolina.<ref>''Greenville News,'' September 15, 1970.</ref>

Watson's running mate, [[James M. Henderson|James Marvin Henderson, Sr.]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knowitall.org/legacy/laureates/james%20m.%20henderson%20.html|title=James M. Henderson|publisher=knowitall.org|accessdate=June 4, 2012}}</ref> an advertising executive from Greenville, former assistant [[Postmaster General]] of the United States, and the father-in-law of later U.S. Senator (since resigned) [[Jim DeMint]] of South Carolina, questioned West's rhetoric: Why, he asked, had family income in South Carolina declined over the previous two decades from 45th to 47th position nationally? Henderson also noted that average wages were higher in [[North Carolina]] or [[Georgia]] than in South Carolina.<ref>''Greenville News,'' September 15, 1970.</ref>