Clyburn Endorses Colbert Busch: 'We're In it to Win It'

On Saturday, the leading Democrat in the state of South Carolina, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-6) endorsed fellow Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch to represent the First Congressional District. And Clyburn did so forcefully. “We’re in it to win it.”

Clyburn issued a message to potential rivals of Colbert Busch who will look to attack her: “I don’t usually get involved in primaries like this. I want Elizabeth to be tough. I’m going to be tough. And I’m telling everybody involved in this race, ‘Don’t bring it if you can’t take it.’”

SC1 hasn’t gone to a Democrat in over 30 years, so Clyburn is under no illusions as to the challenge ahead. “It’s going to be hard work and sacrifice. It’s going to be expensive. But Elizabeth is a good candidate with accomplishments and life experience and she deserves all of our support,” Clyburn told Patch.

Part of SC1 was represented by Clyburn prior to redistricting in 2010, so he knows the district well. In 2008, Linda Ketner earned 48 percent of the vote against the incumbent Republican Henry Brown. But in 2010 and 2012, the GOP’s Tim Scott won the seat easily.

Clyburn thinks this time is different, however. “I’ve noticed a difference in the last year in the people I talk to here in South Carolina. They think it’s time for a progressive change,” he said.

Clyburn believes the sentiment stems from the aftermath of the debt limit fight in the summer of 2011, when South Carolina’s four freshmen Republican congressmen were front and center in opposition to raising the debt ceiling. “It’s been drilled into me since I’ve been in Congress that there is nothing more important than the full faith and credit of the United States of America and for people to put that at risk tells me these people aren’t concerned about the credibility of this country,” Clyburn. “They’ve voted against the Violence Against Women Act and the Fair Pay Act. We have people more interested in serving Grover Norquist than their constituents. People are saying ‘Enough already.’”

Earlier on Saturday, Clyburn appeared with Colbert Busch at a union event in Hanahan. The event was called "Stand Up for Good Jobs in Charleston: T-Mobile Workers Speak Out" and it featured political speakers, union speakers and current and former employees of T-Mobile's German and USA call centers. The Charleston T-Mobile workers are not fully unionized but some employees are part of the CWA Local.

Clyburn said Colbert Busch in Congress would be the key vote needed to protect workers' rights. “She has the background, experience and sensitivity that’s needed in this district,” Clyburn said.

Keep up with all of Patch's coverage of South Carolina politics by following us on Facebook HERE and Twitter HERE.