In June of 2007, I began a campaign exploring the viability of replacing Lindsey Graham as one of South Carolina’s United States Senators. This has always been recognized as an uphill battle and as a political novice, I have learned many valuable lessons along the way. I felt compelled to enter this race because as a nation we have moved so far from the conservative and constitutional values we were founded on.

 

In 9 months, there has been a great deal of excitement and promised support as I have traveled thousands of miles across the state and spoken to thousands of South Carolinians. The race to the ballot was crowded with a number of similar choices so many people chose to sit back and withhold their support until they could make up their minds on which candidate to put all their energy behind. I am now in the final hours before the end of the filing period and there has not been sufficient interest in my race to yield me the required support to place my name on the ballot.

 

In recent days, I have been petitioned and drafted by concerned citizens of the fourth Congressional district to put my energies into replacing Bob Inglis. Bob’s positions on a number of topics, like amnesty for illegal aliens, matches that of Lindsey Graham but Bob still enjoys a healthy approval rating among his constituents.

 

I am concerned for our nation and the direction she is heading. We are losing our freedoms and allowing the Federal government to become too big and social programs too abundant. We need a revival in true conservative thought and practice.

 

The Lord teaches us an important principle in Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29) Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

 

For any race to be viable, the support needed will exceed the required amount for the ballot. This effort has never been about me. I have never been in a position to buy my way into this race and I have always contended that if there was sufficient interest and support for me to run, I would do so. The participation and interest while encouraging has not raised to the level required and so for this time and this election I shall not be a candidate for any office.

 

I will be active in attempting to change the direction we are headed as a nation and if additional time and preparation will lend itself to a more viable attempt in the future, I will consider those options.

 

I would like to thank all of you who did support me and who contributed with finances, time, energy and by spreading the word. I encourage each of you to not resign to the current trends but to fight for the cause of our nation’s founding principles. Whether it is the issue of :

**  life protection for the unborn person,

**  securing of our personal liberties by preventing REAL ID,

**  removal from the globalist agenda, r

**  epeal of NAFTA and other such trade deals,

**  balancing the budget and the Federal Trade Deficit,

**  returning control of services to the individual states and away from the Federal government,

**  enforcing all immigrations laws and preventing Amnesty for illegal aliens,

**  prevent any loss of national sovereignty

**  and prevent all future military decisions based upon intervention, nation building or providing global police services.

 

I encourage you to be an active part of the solution and never resign to apathy.

 

Tim Carnes