GOP Primary gubernatorial candidate Rom Reddy brought his populist message to Horry County, Saturday, May 30. He spoke at Callie Baker’s Firehouse in Myrtle Beach in front of more than 200 people. The crowd was about 20% larger than Reddy’s April 14 crowd at the same venue.
He opened his address by referencing a non-published poll he said was completed Friday.
“A poll came out yesterday I think, by a national polling firm, not ours, actually one of Trump’s pollsters. This is what it said, it said Alan Wilson is at 20.8%, I am at 20.1%, Ralph (Norman) is at 17, Pam (Evette) is at 13.7 and Nancy’s (Mace) at 13.4%. And the pollster said he’s never seen anything like that. He said you started out at zero on March 15 when you joined and it’s like a golden tempo at the Kentucky Derby.”
Later, Reddy said the poll shows he has an almost double-digit “huge” lead in the Upstate, (he’s) a little bit ahead in Charleston, but in Horry County he is 8 points behind Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, in second place. The primary is June 9.
A Trafalgar Group poll released Tuesday, May 26, showed Reddy and Wilson at 19%, with Evette at 20%, Norman at 16%, Mace 15%, and Sen. Josh Kimbrell at 2%.
Reddy’s appearance in Myrtle Beach came on the same day President Donald Trump endorsed Evette in the governor’s race.
“I’m curious as to what this group thinks about a Pamela Evette, Henry McMaster Jr. endorsement?” His question drew a smattering of boos from the crowd.
Reddy, a self-made millionaire who lives in Isle of Palms, also asked another question.
“So, I’m asking you, what is wrong with you people?” The question resulted in laughter from the crowd.
Next Reddy said “this election is between you, the citizen, and me….This is citizen against a broken system.” He said endorsements are an assault on personal choice and it’s “one politician telling you how to vote for another politician.”
