Watch out for Bauer

A few months ago, the Governor's race was Henry McMaster's to lose. Most pundits saw McMaster as the odds on favorite, with Gresham Barrett being a potential challenger because of Barrett's financial war chest.

The latest financial disclosures in the Governor's race paint a familiar scene with those who have lined up against the Lt. Governor before. After all the heeing and hawing and pushing and pulling, McMaster, Barrett and Bauer are all virtually tied in funds on hand. Haley trails them, but she still has the Sanford network behind her.

In other words the race is as fluid as ever. That is were Bauer thrives. Four years ago, with the Governor against him, a traffic ticket scandal, and an airplane crash, Bauer took the underdog role and defeated one of Caroll Campbell's sons for the GOP nomination, and with the party divided behind him, went on to defeat Robert Barber.

Eight years ago, Bauer was considered the underdog against respected State Senator David Thomas for the GOP nomination, yet beat him. Then, Bauer defeated respected state Senator Phil Leventis of Sumter for the Lt. Governor's post.

Bauer's string of upsets began when he knocked off long time state representative David Wright back in the 1990s.

Frankly, the race for Governor is too fluid to call it for anyone now. But, this is where Bauer wants to be. Bauer likes being within shooting distance at this point. All the issues surrounding why Mark Sanford did not turn over the Governor's chair to him seemed to have subsided in rank and file voters and donors.

Bauer is in his zone, now. The man has never lost an election and has the knack for coming on strong when it counts. Again, VUI is not saying that Bauer will win, but we are saying watch out for him. Bauer is in his element.