Independent conservative Thomas Ravenel has been certified as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina, meaning his name will appear on the November ballot alongside incumbent “Republican” Lindsey Graham, Democrat Brad Hutto and Libertarian Victor Kocher.
The certification of Ravenel – the star of Bravo TV’s reality television show Southern Charm – means he has met the state’s threshold of 10,000 valid signatures, according to election officials.
That’s not a big surprise, as Ravenel submitted more than 17,000 signatures last month and was within 60 valid signatures of qualifying for the ballot when we checked in on his status earlier this week.
Ravenel’s presence on the ballot is a major blow to the reelection efforts of Graham, who spent more than $5 million in the 2014 GOP primary only to see his unfavorability rating eclipse his favorability in a post-election poll. In fact Graham has remained at roughly 45 percent in a four-way race, and is unlikely to pick up any additional public support no matter how much money he spends.
Meanwhile without spending a dime on television advertising, Ravenel is already polling at 10 percent according to media surveys – higher in several internal polls – and like Hutto, he has what one consultant referred to as “tremendous growth potential.”
One thing is now very clear, though … with Ravenel on the ballot, Graham’s reelection has gone from a foregone conclusion to a real struggle, the first legitimate test of the veteran politician’s lengthy career.
22 comments
Ravenel is such an idiot
you just set the new land speed record for trolling. CONGRATS! ;)
I’m envious.
Get a clue, dude. Will checks ip numbers.
On a related note, Charleston is experiencing a shortage of pastel clothing and Abercrombie t-shirts. The Ravenel army is growing stronger by the minute!
WHY WOULD ANYONE VOTE FOR THIS FELON?
Former S.C. Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has renounced his American citizenship and is leaving the United States to live in a country where he “can be free.”
The 49-year-old real estate developer made the announcement Friday morning after his lawyer informed him that he would never be able to own a firearm as a result of his 2007 conviction on federal drug charges.
“Because I’m a convicted felon, I can never possess a firearm,” Ravenel wrote on his Facebook page. “Even if I’m in a home where there’s a gun or even just a single bullet the govt. would construe that as constructive possession according to legal counsel which would guarantee me 15 years in federal prison without parole. After carefully weighing my options and not wanting to put my freedom in jeopardy every time I visit my family or friends I’ve decided to renounce my American citizenship and live where I can be free.”
Ravenel said that he would “keep a house (in America) and maintain investments,” but that he would do so as a non-citizen.
Ravenel – a longtime friend and former client of our founding editor, Will Folks – resigned as State Treasurer in July 2007 after being indicted on federal drug charges. In September of that year, he pleaded guilty to ”conspiring to buy and distribute less than 100 grams of cocaine” and served ten months in a federal prison.
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Hmm…..”WHY WOULD ANYONE VOTE FOR THIS FELON?…”
Well, considering that Lindsey Graham was silent while BOEING got 900 Million with out a vote by the citizens of our great state is ONE real expensive reason…!!
Considering that Lindsey Graham was silent about the millions missing from South Carolina State in federal pork…..is one reason…..
Considering Lindsey Graham’s schmoozing up to the Keystone Pipeline while being silent about the Yellowstone National Park CALDERA’s energy potential….is one huge American Blood for OIL reason…..
Considering Lindsey Graham has done nothing to foster LOCALLY farmed Algae Bio-Diesel and refinement instead of a SLAVES choice at the pump right now…is one huge reason…..
Considering Lindsey Graham’s silence on technology to CLOSE all landfills in our Nation with new technology…..is one huge reason……
Considering that Lindsey Graham has FAILED to have a daily or weekly presence in the website comment section is one HUGE social interaction reason…….
….do I think Ravenel will do better…………YES …I…..do..!! Especially when it comes to telling Hillary to shut up before she goes to another country and utters “We Came, We Saw…and He DIED” that got Americans killed…!!
Will he be perfect…….nope…
EVERY REPUBLICAN IN SC is a crook. Who doesn’t get it ?
COOL! Maybe he can, at least, unseat the RINO.
Too bad T-Rav can’t vote for himself.
Yes he can.
I was under the impression a conficted felon can no longer vote nor own a gun. After a bit of research, you are correct:
http://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-as-an-ex-offender/
He just couldn’t vote when he was actually in prison or on probation.I guess he became eligible to vote sometime around early 2012?
Nice.
Sorry man but I think that Ravenel’s candidacy puts more pressure on Hutton than on Graham.
Prove it.
“Meanwhile without spending a dime on television advertising, Ravenel is already polling at ten percent…”. Alvin Greene didn’t spend a dime on television advertising his entire campaign for U.S. Senate either and received over twenty-seven per cent of the vote in the general election. Ravenel won’t come anywhere near that percentage, no matter how much he spends.
Congratulations to the disgraced former South Carolina treasurer, convicted drug dealer, drunken driver, FEC rule violating, near pedophile, out of wedlock baby daddy. Hutton better start lining up some big donors because most of Ravenel’s support will come from his base. 4% at best.
I still say that I don’t what’s sadder; the possibility that the TR camp *really* believes they may pull a respectable number in November, or that they have somehow constructed a scenario in their heads wherein Tea Party conservatives, social conservatives, and straight-laced old school Republicans will bail on LG and somehow flock to this narcissistic, lying, convicted felon who renounced his US citizenship and is a proponent for gay marriage and legal dope…in South-freaking-Carolina…
Who cares? Anyone but Grahamesty.
Lindsey Graham is such a faggot.
Not sure I’d be celebrating something that just ensures my humiliation in November.
“tremendous growth potential.”
That’s what the coach told my parents after I sat on the bench all season long.
Shouldn’t it really be “former” reality star of one of Bravo’s (lowest rated) shows? I thought he gave up this season or was that like his citizenship, a total head fake?
I gotta say I like his steadfastness, he never waivers.