Top candidates turn out for S.C. parade

COLUMBIA -- Nikki Haley may have been on the cover of Newsweek, but she still has to ride in the Chapin Labor Day parade among the square dancers, cheerleaders and a mayor dressed as Captain America.

Chapin is tiny - population 758, according to the U.S. Census Bureau - but its Labor Day parade has become a must-attend for politicians of all stripes. In 1999, it was important enough for then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush to attend on his way to becoming the president.

No presidential hopefuls appeared this year, despite whispers through the crowd that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was in attendance. The biggest names were gubernatorial candidates Haley, a Republican state representative from Lexington County, and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, the Democratic nominee.

"These are the people that made it happen for me," Haley said before taking her place in the back of a pickup truck with her daughter. "These are the people that really got out and voted when they had never voted before. My job is to keep talking to the people, keep sending out the message of returning government back to the people. And there's no better way to do it than through the Chapin Labor Day parade."

The parade was home field for Haley, who has participated in the parade before. Sheheen, on the other hand, was in somewhat hostile territory.

As he walked the parade route with his wife, Sheheen came across a cardboard poster of his face. But it was suspended on top of a tally of the national debt, along with the words "extreme liberal spending." Sheheen's face was next to photos of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Obama and South Carolina's U.S. Rep. John Spratt - all Democrats.

"Let's walk over here," Sheheen said with a smile after he noticed the sign. Across the street, a sympathetic man wearing a "Haley for governor" sticker shook Sheheen's hand. "You're in the wrong neighborhood," the man said, laughing along with Sheheen.

But Sheheen did find a friendly face or two along the parade route, including a handful of folks who gave him a round of applause as he waited for a train to pass.

"I think it's actually more important now more than ever that we stay connected to people, especially with all of the television and national press that tends to take us away from the issues that matter for the state," Sheheen said.

The parade had more than 110 floats crammed into the one-mile course. There were hillbillies, real estate and insurance agents, heating and air technicians, driving instructors and World War II veterans. But the politicians were everywhere.

"It was not designed [for politicians], but it sort of fell into that since Labor Day is right at the beginning of the real push for the election," said Mayor Stan Shealy, who wore a Captain America outfit.

Shealy said he thought this year's parade was "probably the largest we've had."

Lexington-Richland 5 school board candidate Kim Murphy was preparing for the parade when someone thrust a cooler in her hands and said, "Welcome to Chapin."

"Maybe there's a cold beer in here," Murphy said.

Alas, just cold water.