Political observers in South Carolina have long heard stories of a stealth Democratic candidate emerging from the ether of Columbia’s insider politerati at the 11th hour of the 2010 governor’s race.

A stately CEO philanthropist outsider? A billionaire businesswoman?

Whoever it could be, an under-the-radar candidate might be lurking, allegedly backed by lawyers, lobbyists and maybe a former governor.

Or maybe the candidate is a former governor.

If such a candidate exists, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler says she doesn’t know who it is.

However, former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges says in a July 20 phone call from an Atlanta airport, “There certainly is such a candidate out there.”

Hodges doesn’t want to name names, but apparently it isn’t him. “I am not running [for governor],” he says.

Hodges has spoken to both Democrats and Republicans who could be possible candidates, he says.

Conventional wisdom suggests that a Democrat still faces long odds of winning the governor’s mansion next year.

“If it’s a nontraditional candidate that happens to have a stellar economic plan and a good track record, then I think they can certainly be credible,” Hodges says. “People are scared and they’re worried. And when people are scared and they’re worried then they look for somebody who seems to have a strong presence and good ideas.”

Hodges sketched out some other details: The candidate would offer “adult leadership”; could be counted on to fix the economy; could move public schools forward; and would not be “quirky.”

Hodges says he likes S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Kershaw and lawyer Mullins McLoud of the Lowcountry, both of whom have announced that they are running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Asked if he could think of anyone who might know about a soon-to-be-announced candidate, Hodges says, “Good try.”

Prominent Columbia attorney and former state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian says he does not have a candidate to announce.

Multiple Democratic political activists say they expect a candidate running as a Democrat to announce his or her candidacy as early as Monday. Harpootlian is said to have been working with Hodges to back an unannounced candidate for governor since March.

Lobbyist Dwight Drake said “I’m not prepared to talk about it" when asked about the race on July 21.

Some speculation has centered on Dwight Drake, a well-known state legislative lobbyist and attorney with the local heavyweight Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough firm. Drake neither confirmed nor denied any intentions he might have to run for governor. “I’m not prepared to talk about it,” he says in a July 21 phone call.

Whoever a stealth Democratic contender might be, they would face a formidable challenge.
Republicans dominate state politics and control every constitutional office except education superintendent.

Hodges managed to swim upstream by championing an education lottery, which was implemented after he defeated a re-election bid by then-Gov. David Beasley, a Republican, in 1998.

But Hodges did not enjoy much bipartisan support and GOP Gov. Mark Sanford knocked him off after one term.

Sanford has politically crippled himself and given the state Republican Party a black eye after recently admitting to an overseas extramarital affair.

Nevertheless, conventional wisdom suggests that a Democrat still faces long odds of winning the governor’s mansion next year.