YORK, S.C. – Six Republicans are vying in Tuesday's South Carolina primary to get the go-ahead to compete against the state superintendent of education for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Ernest Fritz Hollings (search).
Top among the issues up for debate is the loss of thousands of manufacturing and textile jobs to overseas competition. That makes trade policy key to distinguishing the personalities seeking to take on Inez Tenenbaum (search).
"We are letting countries like China (search) cheat and get away with unfair trade and we need an aggressive enforcement of trade agreements and make sure all trade agreements are fair," said former Gov. David Beasley (search), the GOP front-runner.
Not all South Carolina's GOP candidates agree about the impact of overseas trade.
"The people of South Carolina just need to know the truth about trade and outsourcing and insourcing. And the truth is we are gaining more jobs from international trade and international companies than we are losing," said Rep. Jim DeMint (search).
Other candidates running for the nomination are Thomas Ravenel (search), the son of a former congressman; former state Attorney General Charlie Condon (search); Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride (search) and Hilton Head businesswoman Orly Benny Davis (search).
Click here to watch a report by Fox News' Jonathan Serrie.
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