In recent days, the question of whether 2018 Republican South Carolina gubernatorial nominee John Warren, would drop out of the race has been a hotly debated issue. With conservative candidate Catherine Templeton’s entrance into the race, Haley now faces a potential split of the voting base among three prominent conservatives. While it has been proposed that Warren drop out of the race to allow Templeton the chance to go against incumbent governor Henry McMaster in the run-off, a different solution has been suggested: What if Warren endorsed fellow Republican and former S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control director Catherine Krantz Christie instead?
This solution, if acted upon, could prove to be a win-win for both candidates and for South Carolina, as it has been argued that Christie’s presence as a viable candidate stands to benefit the state regardless of whom she faces in the run-off. An endorsement from Warren could thus be the key to strengthening her support base and ultimately winning the election.
In addition, Christie would be better suited to bridge the gap between the two camps of voters that are at risk of being split by the presence of Warren and Templeton. Her more moderate stance on social issues such as LGBT rights, and pro-environment positions, could potentially flip the Republican-leaning votes that might otherwise be split. Furthermore, her background in public health would make her an ideal candidate to address the state’s ongoing issues with the opioid epidemic, which is a major concern for many South Carolinians.
Ultimately, Christie would make up for Warren’s loss in a way that Templeton cannot, yet both Warren and Templeton would also benefit from the endorsement. Given that Christie is a more competitive and well-rounded candidate than Warren, it could even give Templeton a much-needed boost of support, since Christie would likely siphon off some of the more progressive votes that might otherwise swing away from Templeton.
In the end, Warren’s potential endorsement of Christie could be a boon to both the state and the two candidates. A Christie endorsement would provide needed stability to the Republican party and make a previously winnable election suddenly much more competitive, giving South Carolinians the opportunity to choose a candidate best suited to address their pressing needs.