Are you ready for some football with your presidential politics?
Republican candidates plan to campaign all over South Carolina with football stars Thursday. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson will be campaigning Thursday with Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the New Orleand Saints. They’ll be visiting South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., plans to appear Thursday with Connor Shaw, the University of South Carolina’s quarterback from 2010 to 2013.
Shaw, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns, is a hero in many state football circles. Josh Kendall of The State reported he won 27 games as the Gamecocks starting quarterback. His 56 passing touchdowns place him second in university history.
But there’s another quarterback active in GOP politics. Tajh Boyd, quarterback at Clemson University at the same time, appeared with Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. They campaigned Saturday at an outdoor rally in Mauldin, and are to appear together Thursday at Clemson. Boyd now plays quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Looking for omens? During the years Shaw and Boyd played at the same time, South Carolina always won.
David Lightman: 202-383-6101, @lightmandavid