South Carolina Democrats "received a credibility boost" when two "experienced campaigners jumped into the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings," the Charleston Post and Courier reports. Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum both announced they would run in 2004.
"The nearly concurrent timing of their announcements was triggered by a private e-mail sent by Tenenbaum's husband to supporters confirming her intent to run in 2004. It ended up in the hands of the media."
The State points out "a fact voters are going to be hearing again and again" from the Democrats before the 2004 U.S. Senate race: "Tenenbaum got more votes than any other statewide candidate in 2002."