McMaster touts 'common sense' leadership at event in Greer. Timmons predicts GOP House win.

Incumbent South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster told an estimated 300 Republicans at a Fourth District "Victory Kickoff" event in Greer Monday night that he has the spiritual guidance, patriotism and discipline to deserve a second full term.

"Everything we've done is just plain common sense," he said. "You base it on the Bible, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of South Carolina and the United States and you cannot go wrong."

McMaster and running mate Pam Evette headlined the event at a standing-room-only Historic Depot in Greer, with the Nov. 8 election just six weeks away. It was hosted by the Republican parties of Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

While Republicans were enjoying a pep rally, at the nearby country music concert venue Cowboy Up Greenville Democratic gubernatorial opponent Joe Cunningham and his running mate, Tally Parham Casey, were holding a campaign event before a crowd of about 75 people.

More:Joe Cunningham rallies in Greenville and claims very close race for SC governor

McMaster didn't spend time calling out Cunningham by name. But in his folksy style, he drew cheers and applause as he threw several barbs at President Joe Biden and the Democratic leadership in Washington.

He said Democrats overreacted in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Constitution does not give you a single right," McMaster said. "The Constitution of the United States was written and passed by those 13 states to protect your God-given rights against this national government that we're going to create. Nowhere in that Constitution does it say that the president of the United States can tell you you have to get a vaccine, even if it's the best idea in the whole world.

Cunningham in SpartanburgCunningham hopes to unseat incumbent Republican McMaster in SC governor's race

"Now, the state government can do that. But this state government ain't gonna do that."

McMaster said Republican governors banded together to sue the federal government over mask and vaccine mandates.

"I've heard intelligent people say well, the Constitution is one thing, but this is an emergency," he said. "I said that's what the Constitution is built for, you moron … Crazy is not going to happen here in South Carolina."

Evette said voters should focus on McMaster's record as governor since 2017.

"COVID taught us how important our state and local leaders are, the last defense against overreach from the federal government," she said. "When the country was closing down, here in South Carolina we were the last state east of the Mississippi to tap on the brakes and the first state to open back up. (McMaster) got a lot of pressure to close everything down, but he never did. And it worked out really well for the people of South Carolina."

Evette criticized Democrats for "out-of-control" spending and skyrocketing inflation.

"I never would have thought we'd have gas prices where they are, but what really hurts my heart is when you look at our grocery stores and see we don't have baby formula," she said. "We're begging countries like Switzerland to send us baby formula."

Incumbent 4th District U.S. Rep. William Timmons also spoke. He is unopposed, but Democrat Lee Turner of Greenville is mounting a write-in campaign for his seat.

Write-in campaign launchedDemocrat Turner running write-in campaign against Republican incumbent US Rep. Timmons

Timmons predicted Republicans will take back control of the House of Representatives.

"It has been rough with Pelosi as the speaker," he said. "It has been terrible to be serving in Congress under her rein. Inflation is through the roof. Gas prices doubled since (Biden) took office. More people will cross the southern border illegally in the first two years of the Biden administration than in eight years under Obama. And it's only going to get worse."

While their criticism was aimed at Democrats in general, Timmons and Evette did mention Cunningham by name.

"I always try to give Democrats credit where credit is due," Timmons said. "Joe Cunningham has incredible hair. But he would be a terrible governor."

Evette said, "We have a challenger. As Congressman Timmons says, (Cunningham) probably does have really good hair. He's here in Greenville tonight. He's working hard, criss-crossing the state. But we have a great message. We have a great resume and we need to talk about it. We need to be unapologetic about what we believe in.

"We believe in God, the sanctity of life, family, and we believe in growing business. We believe in taking government out of your homes and out of your way."

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Mark Hammond also spoke. He faces Democrat Rosemounda Peggy Butler.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, facing a challenge from Democrat Krystle Matthews, did not attend the event. Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Curt Smith said Scott was campaigning elsewhere in the state Monday night.

Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com. Please support our coverage of Spartanburg County with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: McMaster slams Dems for COVID response, touts 'common sense' leadership