I live in South Carolina, one of the reddest states in the Union. Saturday night, I saw something encouraging - and it was a Republican's campaign ad.
More on the flip -
The ad was for Greg Ryberg, currently a state senator and running to become state treasurer. The version of the ad I saw, clocking in at 60 seconds, never noted Ryberg's membership in the Republican party until the final shot which only bore the legend "Republican Greg Ryberg for Treasurer." Throughout the ad Ryberg referred to himself as a "conservative." The word "Republican" was never spoken.
My wife and I laughed heartily at "The West Wing" when it had South Carolina go for the Democrat in its fictional election, but now I wonder if they knew something. When you have to run from the label "Republican" in South Carolina, it has become toxic indeed.