Thomas Ravenel says he already has 10 percent of the voters

Ravenel

A Palmetto State political gossip blog reported Thursday that the campaign of US Sen,. Lindsay Graham is debating on how to handle Thomas Ravenel.

According to FITS News, a consultant-connected blog, a Graham staffer thinks Ravenel is trying to boost ratings for his reality TV show, Southern Charm. FITS' News founder has been linked to Ravenel, by Ravenel, as a campaign consultant. 

The consultants, who can get a chunk of Graham's campaign millions, if they go after Ravenel as a serious contender, say Ravenel is really trying to get votes. 

Both could be right, but Ravenel has to know the best he can do, is elect Democrat Brad Hutto. And that's likely what he intends to do. 

Graham has to hope supporters of the convicted felon are taking Hutto's voters, as much or more than his. He's likely betting the criminal population - and the pop culture crowd - votes D. That's a safe bet. 

Anyway, Ravenel is bragging, already. He just sent out this release.

RAVENEL FOR SENATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAVENEL: I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT

EDISTO, S.C. - Lowcountry businessman and independent U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Ravenel issued the following statement today regarding polling data released by The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier and several television stations.

"Like John Paul Jones said, 'I have not yet begun to fight,'" Ravenel said. "I'm at ten percent and haven't spent a dime getting my message out.  By contrast Lindsey Graham has spent $5 million getting his message out in the last few months and his approval rating is only 39 percent.  Meanwhile 44 percent disapprove of his performance - a number that's only going to climb as people start realizing that he's serving Washington's interests, not their interests. No one has ever seriously challenged him - he's never had to defend his votes for unnecessary wars, unnecessary government, anti-competitive tax hikes or liberal Supreme Court justices. I'm not only going to hold him accountable for those votes - I'm going to offer people a competing vision for the direction of this country.  They don't have to choose between the warfare state or the welfare state anymore. My campaign is going to give them a real choice."

Ravenel reiterated he is willing to spend "whatever it takes" to highlight the contrast between Graham's left-leaning record and his conservative policies.