CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -
Thursday night's
Republican forum was packed with high expectations.
"This is a vetting
process," says voter Maryann Taylor. "For me that's the biggest part of it. To
vett each candidate so we can select the very best, most competent
person."
"I just want someone
to be honest, be themselves and have true conservative values," says
attendee David Swan.
A strictly moderated
discussion, 15 of the 16 candidates who attended are competing for the seat
left open United States Senator Tim Scott. Issues varied from Friday's possible
sequester to local concerns like the cruise liners docking in Charleston. Some
voters say their greatest worry is federal spending.
"They need to cut the
budget," says Edwin Taylor, another attendee. "We're $16 trillion in debt."
"I would like to see
this person go and represent us and look at the budget because again we haven't
had a budget presented," says Maryann.
Jobs were also at the forefront of the
discussion.
"We've gotta find some ways to make it
easier for people to export so we can keep the dock alive and keep people
coming in and out Charleston with their goods."
The primary is set for
Tuesday, March 19th. The special election will be May 7th.
