T. Ravenel and friend. H/T The Post and Courier

In a rather bleak time, something amusing has surfaced: Former state treasurer Ravenel planning US Senate run against Graham By Jason Ryan heraldonline.com

TV show star Thomas Ravenel says he is proceeding with plans to run as an independent for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Lindsey Graham. Ravenel…said Wednesday that he plans soon to complete a petition drive, collecting the signatures of at least 10,000 S.C. voters.

Ravenel, son of a former Congressman and a member of one of South Carolina’s most storied families, has a history suited to modern American politics

Ravenel…previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, placing third in the GOP primary. In 2006, he was elected state treasurer only to esign the next year after being indicted for cocaine charges. Subsequently, Ravenel pleaded guilty and served 10 months in prison.

Most recently, Ravenel has starred in Bravo’s “Southern Charm” reality show, presenting himself as an amorous, indulgent polo-playing partier who lives a charmed life at an Edisto Island plantation. At this spring’s conclusion of “Southern Charm’s” first season, the 51-year-old Ravenel announced that his on-air – and current – girlfriend, 29 years his junior, had given birth to a baby girl. All the while, Ravenel has been a developer of shopping centers across the South.

Remember, this is the state which sent disgraced ex-Governor Mark Sanford back to Congress.

Ravenel is very bad news for Lindsey Graham. Despite overwhelming funding and name recognition advantages Graham only won 57% against six obscure challengers the night of the Cantor defeat, a point which the MSM ignored.

In Thomas Ravenel Makes His Move engagingly subtitled LINDSEY GRAHAM’S WORST NIGHTMARE IS TAKING SHAPE … the South Carolina political site FITSNEWS comments it has

…has already been provided with top lines from a pair of polls showing Ravenel already drawing double-digit support in a general election matchup against Graham and Democratic nominee Brad Hutto.

Of course, if things get bad, Graham’s NeoCon owners will doubtless copy the Cochrane campaign and buy Black votes.

Patriots should be willing to pay a high price to get rid of Lindsey Graham. Ravenel does not seem to have much of an internet presence yet although he does have a Facebook page