Bob Conley

Bob Conley
Democratic nominee for
U.S. Senator for South Carolina
Opponent(s) Lindsey Graham
Incumbent Lindsey Graham
Personal details
Born (1965-09-06) September 6, 1965
Political party Democratic
Other political
affiliations		 Republican (formerly)
Residence North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater Trine University
Profession commercial pilot, flight instructor, licensed professional engineer

Robert M. Conley (born September 6, 1965) is an American pilot, engineer, and politician. He was the 2008 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from South Carolina; he ran against and lost to Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham.

Conley defeated lawyer Michael Cone in the primary election on June 16, following a recount, by a margin of 1,058 votes.[1] He has been labeled a "conservative Democrat".[2]

Conley supported libertarian Republican Congressman Ron Paul in his presidential campaign.[3] He is a resident of North Myrtle Beach, where he served as a member of the Horry County Republican Committee prior to seeking the Democratic nomination. His candidacy was endorsed by many conservative South Carolinians,[4] as well as by Constitution Party presidential nominee Chuck Baldwin.

Positions

"Conley stands for ending illegal immigration, protecting American workers, bringing our troops home from Iraq, increasing veterans' benefits, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, ending Wall Street bailouts, repealing the Patriot Act, cutting spending, and fidelity to the Constitution."[2] He is opposed to same-sex marriage.[5] He supports a non-interventionist foreign policy.[6]

Criticism

Michael Cone, Conley's primary opponent, criticized Conley as too conservative, saying, "We've nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary."[4] Conley was a Republican but left the party due to frustration over immigration, trade, and the Iraq War. Numerous commentators, including Lew Rockwell[7] of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Jack Hunter[4] and Daniel McCarthy[8] in The American Conservative, have compared him to Republican Congressman Ron Paul. Conley voted for Paul in South Carolina's presidential primary.[2]

2008 South Carolina Senate campaign

After Bob Conley beat Cone in the primary he went on to compete against incumbent Republican senator Lindsey Graham. Conley's campaign followed his mantra of fiscal conservatism by spending only $15,202 for 42.25% of the vote on November 5 to Graham's $6,596,229 for 57.53%.[9]

References

  1. ↑ US Senate recount shows Conley to face Graham, WBTV.com; accessed May 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Democrat Bob Conley offers conservatives a real choice in November, Charlestoncitypaper.com, June 18, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Bob Conley: 'The Ron Paul Democrat'", elonkey.blogspot.com, June 23, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Hunter, Jack (2008-07-28) The Right Democrat, The American Conservative
  5. ↑ "aimhighwithbob.com". Aimhighwithbob.com. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
  6. ↑ "Is He a Republican or Democrat?". Unitedliberty.org. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
  7. ↑ Ron Paul Democrat! Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine., by Lew Rockwell, June 14, 2008; retrieved November 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ Daniel McCarthy "A Ron Paul Democrat in South Carolina", The American Conservative, June 16, 2008; retrieved November 23, 2009.
  9. ↑ 2008 Race: South Carolina Senate Total Raised and Spent (Note: as of June 30, 2008), Opensecrets.org; accessed May 14, 2017.
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