Democratic Convention Heats Up

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A South Carolina Democratic candidate forgovernor set the tone for his party in the November elections bycalling out the convictions of top elected state GOP leaders since2002, as well as Governor Mark Sanford’s problems. State Senator Vincent Sheheen addressed the state DemocraticParty convention Saturday in Columbia and brought cheers as henoted the Republican state agriculture commissioner and statetreasurer were both convicted and sent to prison after takingoffice. He noted that Sanford fought against federal stimulus cash meantto jump-start the ailing economy, even as the state’s unemploymentrate doubled to more than 12 percent during the governor’s twoterms in office. He also said Sanford brought shame to the state after hisconfessed affair with an Argentine woman that resulted in an ethicsinvestigation and a formal rebuke by the state House.