Changes

==Watson v. West==

==Watson v. West==

In 1970, Watson won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with a major assist from Thurmond. He then faced strong competition from the Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor [[John C. West]], originally from  Camden. Watson's continuing support for segregation caused many within his own party to shy away from his candidacy. Not a single daily newspaper endorsed Watson for governor but he obtained "the neutrality" of the ''Charleston News & Courier,'' which after the election urged the establishment of the two-party system.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>In its endorsement of West, the ''Columbia State'', edited by the 1962 Republican senatorial nominee, W. D. Workman, Jr., said that the Democratic nominee had "articulated a far more specific platform than any of his rivals -- at least with respect to state issues," but the paper questioned how West could fund promised teacher pay increases. ''The State'' also urged the election of more Republicans to the South Carolina General Assembly.<ref>''Columbia State,'' November 1, 1970.</ref>

In 1970, Watson won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with a major assist from Thurmond. He then faced strong competition from the Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor John C. West, originally from  Camden. Watson's continuing support for segregation caused many within his own party to shy away from his candidacy. Not a single daily newspaper endorsed Watson for governor but he obtained "the neutrality" of the ''Charleston News & Courier,'' which after the election urged the establishment of the two-party system.<ref>"The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>In its endorsement of West, the ''Columbia State'', edited by the 1962 Republican senatorial nominee, W. D. Workman, Jr., said that the Democratic nominee had "articulated a far more specific platform than any of his rivals -- at least with respect to state issues," but the paper questioned how West could fund promised teacher pay increases. ''The State'' also urged the election of more Republicans to the South Carolina General Assembly.<ref>''Columbia State,'' November 1, 1970.</ref>

   

   

''The Anderson Independent'' ridiculed Watson for having been "unable to fault the state administration on any real issues" and had therefore "sent posthaste for 'Spiro the Lip' (a reference to [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Spiro Agnew]]) and young David Eisenhower (President Nixon's son-in-law and the grandson of President Eisenhower) to come running to the rescue."<ref>''The Anderson Independent,'' October 18, 1970.</ref>West discouraged out-of-state endorsements and relied instead on U.S. Senator [[Ernest Hollings]], the Democratic members of the South Carolina congressional delegation, and Governor Robert Evander McNair, Sr. (1923-2007) who termed West "my right arm in government."<ref>''The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>[[United Methodist]] clergyman Angus McKay Brabham, Jr. (1916-2000), endorsed West and claimed that Watson carried the backing of various members of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and the [[John Birch Society]].<ref>''Columbia State'' and ''Charlotte Observer,'' October 15, 1970.</ref>

''The Anderson Independent'' ridiculed Watson for having been "unable to fault the state administration on any real issues" and had therefore "sent posthaste for 'Spiro the Lip' (a reference to [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Spiro Agnew]]) and young David Eisenhower (President Nixon's son-in-law and the grandson of President Eisenhower) to come running to the rescue."<ref>''The Anderson Independent,'' October 18, 1970.</ref>West discouraged out-of-state endorsements and relied instead on U.S. Senator [[Ernest Hollings]], the Democratic members of the South Carolina congressional delegation, and Governor Robert Evander McNair, Sr. (1923-2007) who termed West "my right arm in government."<ref>''The Changing Politics of Race," p. 235.</ref>[[United Methodist]] clergyman Angus McKay Brabham, Jr. (1916-2000), endorsed West and claimed that Watson carried the backing of various members of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and the [[John Birch Society]].<ref>''Columbia State'' and ''Charlotte Observer,'' October 15, 1970.</ref>