In 1st TV ad of cycle, McMaster knocks DC Democrats and touts SC’s COVID response
Positioned to win his Republican primary election this month, Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday released his first television ad of the cycle that contrasts Democrat-pushed polices in Washington with how South Carolina handled COVID-19 restrictions. It will begin airing next week.
McMaster, who became governor in 2017 and won his first term in 2018, is seeking a second full term in office.
He has one GOP challenger on June 14: Harrison Musselwhite.
“Washington has gone wild,” McMaster says in the six-figure ad buy airing statewide. “COVID lockdowns, spending like there’s no tomorrow is driving the cost of gas, food (and) everything else through the roof.”
The ad features images of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and images of a gas pump and empty grocery store shelves.
“Joe Biden and the woke crowd have lost their minds. In South Carolina we do things different. When COVID hit, we kept our businesses and churches open to keep our economy and our people strong,” McMaster said. “Washington may be a mess but here in South Carolina, we’re doing it right.”
McMaster initially ordered schools to close, certain close contact businesses to close and restaurants to only provide take out orders. He even briefly had a work or home order. But, about a month into the pandemic, he began to loosen restrictions to allow businesses to reopen and operate.
The governor’s COVID-19 state of emergency ended about a year ago.
About 18,000 people have died from COVID-19 in South Carolina since the beginning of the pandemic.
McMaster, who has a 55% job approval rating according to the latest Winthrop University Poll, is expected to easily win the nomination. In November he is likely to face Democratic frontrunners, former Congressman Joe Cunningham or state Sen. Mia McLeod, D-Richland.
He has raised more than $5.3 million for his campaign. Musselwhite has reported about $21,000 in contributions.
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 12:31 PM with the headline "In 1st TV ad of cycle, McMaster knocks DC Democrats and touts SC’s COVID response."
