 The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on June 9, 1998 and it was a sign of trouble that Governor David Beasley faced opposition to his reelection within his own party.Nonetheless, he easily defeated Bill Able, an attorney from Columbia, to become the Republican nominee for governor in the general election.Hodges started the campaign with a low name recognition across the state and early on it was decided by his camp to make education as their chief issue for the election.