Surprise South Carolina Senate Candidate Facing Pending Felony Charge
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The South Carolina Democratic Party on Wednesday asked its challenger to Sen. Jim DeMint to step aside after it was revealed he faces a felony charge.
One day after roundly defeating his Democratic Senate primary candidate, Alvin Greene, 32, refused to answer questions about a pending felony charge for allegedly showing a University of South Carolina Student obscene Internet photos.
Court records show Greene was arrested in November and charged with the felony, which carries up to five years in prison.
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South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler called for Greene's withdrawal from the race on Wednesday, saying in a statement that "this new information about Mr. Greene would certainly have affected the decisions of many of those voters."
"We are proud to have nominated a Democratic ticket this year that, with the apparent exception of Mr. Greene, reflects South Carolina's values," Fowler said. "Our candidates want to give this state a new beginning without the drama and irresponsibility of the past eight years, and the charges against Mr. Greene indicate that he cannot contribute to that new beginning. I hope he will see the wisdom of leaving the race."
Greene reportedly posted bond after his arrest and has yet to enter a plea or be indicted.
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Records indicate Greene showed photos to a woman and talked about going to her room at a university dorm.
On Tuesday, Greene stunned state Democratic Party leaders by winning the nomination. He raised no money and put up no campaign website. He beat former four-term state lawmaker Vic Rawl, 64, who had raised about $186,000 and had to abruptly scrap a late-week fundraiser for the fall.
Greene said he spent a total of 13 years in the Air Force and Army before leaving the Army in August.
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DeMint, a conservative Republican and tea party darling pursuing a second term, has marshaled a $3.5 million war chest already to face the bare-pockets Democratic underdog.
Political analysts don't give Greene a chance. Few expected Rawl would have fared better.
Rawl's lengthy resume lists four past state House terms and former posts as prosecutor, circuit court judge and more.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report