Alvin Greene's implausible S.C. victory: 6 theories
An unemployed 32-year-old Army veteran has won the Democrat primary for South Carolina's senate seat. How on earth did he do it?
Alvin Greene's shock victory in the Democrat primary for South Carolina's senate seat has left both the state's political establishment and pundits at a loss. The 32-year-old "mystery man" who'll face Republican senator Jim DeMint in November is an unemployed Army veteran who attended no campaign events, bought no advertising and — unthinkable in 2010 — did not even have a campaign website. What's more, it's emerged that Greene is facing felony charges for allegedly showing lewd photos to a University of South Carolina student. How did this happen? (Watch Alvin Greene say he has a shot to win)
1. "Hard work"
Greene told Suzy Khimm at Mother Jones that his victory was the result of "hard work, and just getting my message to supporters." Yet in a "rambling" three-hour interview with Manuel Roig-Franzia at The Washington Post, the candidate reportedly "could not name a single specific thing he'd done to campaign for lofty political office." Greene maintains that details of how he won are not relevant. "I'm not concentrating on how I was elected — it's history," he told Khimm. "We need to get talking about America."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. An alphabetical fluke
State Democratic Party chair Carol Fowler has offered the "uber-scientific" suggestion, says Haley Cohen at Vanity Fair, that Greene won because his name appeared first on the ballot paper, ahead of rival Vic Rawl, a four-term state lawmaker. "This theory may also account for how Bush won twice," quips Cohen.
3. He's a GOP plant
Some suspect Greene's "curious candidacy" may not be all that it seems, says Corey Hutchins at the Columbia Free Times. "Republican place markers" — that is, deliberately weak candidates funded by the GOP — are "campaign legend" in South Carolina. In the early 90s, an unemployed black fisherman was "coaxed" into running in a primary race to increase white turnout in the polls. But Greene says "he's never heard of such a thing."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
4. He's a political mastermind
One "intriguing" possibility is that Greene is "some kind of political genius," says Terence Samuel at The Root. Could he be a "stealth savant" so accomplished in the "art of grassroots campaigning" that he could attract 59 percent of the vote "while escaping the notice of his opponent, his party and the media"?
5. South Carolina just doesn't like Vic Rawl
Rawl, the Democrat "judge and former state legislator" who lost to Greene, is far from popular among South Carolina Democrats, notes Ryan Tracy at Newsweek. A survey conducted in May found that only 4 percent had a favorable opinion of him. But, "that's a strong indication that many S.C. Democrats simply didn't know who Rawl was either."
6. He's black
Race can sometimes "tip the balance" in elections where both candidates are virtually unknown, says Alan Abramowitz, a political science academic quoted in Newsweek. But even though "there are many African-American voters among South Carolina Democrats," Greene's photo was not on the ballot paper and — given his spectacularly low-key campaign approach — it's unlikely any would have known who he is.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'His story should be here'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Not cross buns': the row over recipe revamps
Talking Point New versions of the Easter favourite have sparked controversy but sales are soaring
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published