SCGOP Chair Talks Up Romney at Greenville Headquarters Opening

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney may not have been South Carolina's first choice, but the state's Republican Party stands firmly behind him.

Even after the progressive magazine Mother Jones released a series of audiotapes of the Republican Presidential nominee speaking at a fundraiser earlier this year, Chad Connelly, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party said Romney can win.

"Obviously I stand by what Mitt Romney said. He's right," Connelly said. "We don't get a fair shake in the media. Let's face it, if the media were being honest right now, this would be a runaway for Mitt Romney and we could declare it over."

The tapes appear to have been made without Romney's knowledge and Romney hasn't backed down from the comments he made.

Connelly spoke Tuesday evening to a small crowd at the opening of its Upstate VICTORY campaign office at 19 College St., Greenville.

Connelly told volunteers that this was the year to leave nothing on the playing field.

"Our country is in a disasterous spot, I believe Barack Obama has almost made Jimmy Carter look competent," Connelly said.

Connelly said the party has three priorities for this year's election: to help Tom Rice win a Senate seat in the United States Congress, winning and adding conservative House and Senate seats in South Carolina, and "going Red" by sending 1,000 South Carolina Republicans to other states wherever they may be.

The Greenville office will serve as a central location for volunteers and activists. VICTORY offices have already opened in other parts of the state, and more will follow soon with offices in Rock Hill and Spartanburg.