Recent news stories are picking up on an undercurrent in the S.C. Democratic Party.

Grassroots Democrats and Legislators are abandoning State Chairman Dick Harpootlian in droves. See below:

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For outgoing party Chairwoman Shelly Roehrs, who isn’t seeking re-election after one term for business reasons, Saturday is a time to build cohesiveness that she says hasn’t been coming from the “good ol’ boy” State Democratic Party in Columbia.

“We just don’t get a lot of support,” she said. “And we’re kind of left to do things on our own. So we work with a lot of volunteers, and it’s good to know that there are some Democrats here who are willing to step up.” – Spartanburg Herald Journal, March 16

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Harpootlian said the New Democrats’ event holds no more significance to the Democratic Party than a kid’s soccer game would.

Noble noted after he lost the chairman’s race, he released a statement asking all his supporters “to join me in supporting our new Chair, Dick Harpootlian, as he carries this battle to the Republicans.” Noble added: “In terms of party unity, he’s attacking me. I’m not attacking him.” – The State, March 10

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State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, might be in the cross hairs of state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, but his Democratic Senate colleagues have his back…The S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously sent Harpootlian a letter endorsing Ford’s re-election…

Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Columbia, said the caucus took the unusual step to counter Harpootlian. “Never in my 19 years in the Senate has the caucus done this,” Jackson said. – The Post and Courier, March 16

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…Jackson, a Democrat, publicly is supporting Courson, a Republican, in his bid for re-election to Senate District 20… (over Harpootlian’s former law associate Robert Rikard) – The State, March 17