Erwin would have had to raise the equivalent of the GDP of a small country to compete with Graham.

I wouldn't do it if I were he. As former chair of the state Democratic Party he bankrolled the state's operations for years out of his own pocket with little support.

I'd buy myself an island before I went head to head with Graham.

—Ian—

Erwin says he won’t challenge Graham for U.S. Senate in 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin said Tuesday he will not run for the U.S. Senate next year.
Earlier this month, Erwin said he was mulling a bid against incumbent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham after receiving persistent phone calls encouraging him to do so — as well as some coaxing on the part of his own mother.
“I was really flattered and honored by the almost overwhelming number of calls and e-mails,” Erwin said Tuesday. “This was just a lot to think about.”
Erwin said that he would prefer to continue working with the philanthropic organization that he and his wife are setting up, as well as expanding their Greenville ad agency.
Erwin has said that he expects Graham, who is seeking his second term, will be able to put at least $8 million into the primary and election contests.
That’d be a formidable sum for any challenger to overcome, Erwin said, adding that potential Democratic opponents are going to have to decide if they are “in just for respectability or are they going to compete to win.”
Also on Tuesday, Graham announced that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has endorsed him and will serve as his campaign co-chairman, along with U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.
DeMint and South Carolina’s four Republican U.S. House members backed Graham last week.
Graham has faced fierce criticism from South Carolina Republicans for pushing legislation overhauling the nation’s illegal immigrant laws. In that failed fight, DeMint rallied opponents of the legislation.