Neil Thigpen, longtime political science commentator and retired Francis Marion University professor, had complimentary things to say about Vincent in today's "Thursdays with Thigpen" Q & A.  Read the full piece here.

Question: Things are a little closer among Democrats in the governor’s race, according to the Rasmussen poll of likely Democratic primary voters. S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen each were favored by 16 percent of those surveyed. State Sen. Robert Ford was supported by 12 percent of those polled. Most people, 37 percent, were undecided and 15 percent said they support another candidate. Dwight Drake, who dropped out of the race last week, garnered 5 percent. What are your thoughts?

Answer: Unlike the Republican race, this shows that at least one candidate on the Democratic side, is moving very rapidly upward, and that’s state Sen. Sheheen. In a fairly creditable poll a few months ago, Dr. Rex had a fairly sizable lead, and Sheheen was in third. This indicates to me with Sheheen now tied with Rex, that Rex is standing still and Sheheen is moving like a Mack truck. A lot more people know who he is than knew a number of months ago. He has been the one on the Democratic side that has run a really exceptional and well-reasoned campaign. He got an early start, he’s raised the most money, and he’s put together a network of supporters.

Question: The S.C. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Gresham Barrett and Democrat Vincent Sheheen in their respective bids for governor. The Chamber is the state’s largest business advocacy group and this is the first time they have endorsed candidates for governor. What do you think of these endorsements?

Answer: Coming from the business community, it’s a plus obviously for any candidate. It’s a more routine type of endorsement on the Republican side with Congressman Barrett. He had as good a chance as the other (Republicans) in the field to get an endorsement from the Chamber, but the fact that Sen. Sheheen got the endorsement on the Democratic side is very good for him. It means the business community isn’t afraid of him just because he’s a Democrat, they must detect something in his record and his pronouncements. That suggest on business matters that he would be very conservative and businesslike on the conduct of state affairs it’s a much bigger catch for Sheheen than for Barrett.