Barrett Announces GOP Run For Governor
WYFF-TV
March 4, 2009
GREENVILLE, S.C. — South Carolina U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett announced Wednesday that he wants to be South Carolina’s next governor.
Barrett joins Furman University political scientist Brent Nelsen as the declared Republican candidates for next year’s election.
Barrett represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Pickens, Oconee, Anderson, Abbeville, Greenwood and Laurens Counties in the Upstate and also runs along South Carolina’s border with Georgia near Aiken.
He was a state legislator until he won the seat in 2002. Barrett succeeded Sen. Lindsey Graham in Congress.
Barrett said that he will focus on Economic Development, Energy and Education, what he calls the “Three E’s”
WYFF News 4’s Nigel Robertson interviewed Barrett. That interview will air on WYFF News 4 on Wednesday.
Barrett said that that despite winning four congressional elections, he is nervous about the upcoming campaign leading up to the GOP primary in June 2010 and, if he wins the nomination, the general election in November .
“It’s a good nervous,” Barrett said. “My wife and I and my family have thought about this a lot. We’re praying about it and I feel like this is a direction that the lord’s is leading me and no matter what the outcome, it’s going to be the outcome that he wants.”
Barrett wants to succeed Gov. Mark Sanford, who is prohibited from running for a third term.
Barrett and Nelsen are declared GOP candidates. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster have said that they are strongly considering joining the field.
