Democratic State Rep. James Smith resumed his campaign for South Carolina governor after being released from SC National Guard duties in the wake of Tropical Storm Florence. Smith and Republican Governor Henry McMaster had suspended their campaigns as South Carolina was bracing for the impact of the storm.
Both candidates did their part to help during the disaster. McMaster led the state's response from the Emergency Operations Center and Smith, a major in the SC Army National Guard, was called up for active duty, working out of the same complex. His job was to help make sure the Guard had the proper resources to respond and help.
Since the state is still preparing for even more flooding, McMaster is still working at the EOC. His campaign is officially still suspended and no word when it will resume.
Smith was at a fundraiser last night here in Greenville. His campaign said this was an important event since several of the Upstate leaders who, in the past, donated to GOP candidates, were helping Smith raise money. Smith was also planning stops in Spartanburg and in Columbia.
In a statement released, Smith said, "It was important to pause the campaign and set politics aside and work together as one South Carolina to keep each other safe. It was a privilege to serve again in response to a threat facing our state."
