Tom Ervin, petition candidate for South Carolina governor, is dropping out of the race and will throw his support behind Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen.Ervin and Sheheen initially shared their news exclusively with WYFF News 4’s Nigel Robertson in Falls Park Tuesday afternoon.Video from Falls Park announcementErvin said that he got into the race to try to bring change Columbia, but at this point, supporting Sheheen is the best way to change to the governor’s office.“This is one of the most important elections in my lifetime" he said. "That's why I felt it was necessary to put aside my personal ambitions for the greater good of the state I love so much. Today I am endorsing Senator Sheheen, so that our state can receive the leadership we deserve on DSS (The Department of Social Services), ethics, domestic violence and growing the economy for all of South Carolina."Sheheen thanked Ervin for his support saying, "I'm proud to stand with you today."Ervin said he recognizes it's too close to the election for his name to be removed from the ballot. People already are voting absentee. Ervin has put more than $3 million of his own money into the race.The announcement was made after Sheheen made a campaign stop in Anderson.Sheheen is challenging incumbent Gov. Nikki Haley in the election that is just days away.The State Newspaper also endorsed Sheheen over the weekend.In a Winthrop poll released Oct. 1, Haley held a 10-point lead over Sheheen.The poll indicated Haley led Sheheen by a 43.6 percent to 33.6 percent margin among likely South Carolina voters.At that time, Ervin, a self-funded attorney and former judge, had only a slight effect on the race, with 3.9 percent of voters, according to the poll.Haley, the state’s first female and Indian-American governor, beat Sheheen, a Camden attorney, in 2010 by 51.4 percent to 47 percent of votes.

Tom Ervin, petition candidate for South Carolina governor, is dropping out of the race and will throw his support behind Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen.

Ervin and Sheheen initially shared their news exclusively with WYFF News 4’s Nigel Robertson in Falls Park Tuesday afternoon.


Video from Falls Park announcement

Ervin said that he got into the race to try to bring change Columbia, but at this point, supporting Sheheen is the best way to change to the governor’s office.

“This is one of the most important elections in my lifetime" he said. "That's why I felt it was necessary to put aside my personal ambitions for the greater good of the state I love so much. Today I am endorsing Senator Sheheen, so that our state can receive the leadership we deserve on DSS (The Department of Social Services), ethics, domestic violence and growing the economy for all of South Carolina."

Sheheen thanked Ervin for his support saying, "I'm proud to stand with you today."

Ervin said he recognizes it's too close to the election for his name to be removed from the ballot. People already are voting absentee.



Ervin has put more than $3 million of his own money into the race.

The announcement was made after Sheheen made a campaign stop in Anderson.

Sheheen is challenging incumbent Gov. Nikki Haley in the election that is just days away.

The State Newspaper also endorsed Sheheen over the weekend.

In a Winthrop poll released Oct. 1, Haley held a 10-point lead over Sheheen.

The poll indicated Haley led Sheheen by a 43.6 percent to 33.6 percent margin among likely South Carolina voters.

At that time, Ervin, a self-funded attorney and former judge, had only a slight effect on the race, with 3.9 percent of voters, according to the poll.

Haley, the state’s first female and Indian-American governor, beat Sheheen, a Camden attorney, in 2010 by 51.4 percent to 47 percent of votes.