That conversation, he said, is about “whether conservatism is the ideology of a small angry sect or whether it’s the governing philosophy of a majority of Americans.”

The political task ahead, Inglis said, is to figure out how to channel “the understandable anger and legitimate frustration” over the economic crisis and government spending.

The six-term congressman shows no signs of taking on a more aggressive conservative tone.

“I learned from my hatred of Bill Clinton,” he said. “I just hated the guy and it was wrong. And I don’t want to repeat that mistake.” So he is approaching this White House with the belief that there will be opportunities for dialogue, he said.

Inglis’s primary election opponents — Andrew Smart, a Greenville sandwich company executive, and Christina Jeffries, a professor at Wofford College in Spartanburg — accuse Inglis of betraying voters by working with Democrats.

In particular, they criticize him for voting against President George W. Bush ’s “surge” strategy in Iraq and against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“ Bob Inglis is symbolic of the path many Republicans have taken over the past few years as he has continued to compromise our conservative values. He is sadly out of touch with his constituents,” Jeffries says on her campaign Web site.

Two other Republican candidates told the Greenville News they are planning to announce their candidacies soon.

If Inglis is feeling a sense of urgency over the prospect of a crowded primary, it is not reflected in his fundraising. His congressional campaign reported raising just $37,000 in the first three months of 2009 — a liesurely pace, even in an odd-numbered year — with $131,000 in cash on hand.

1st District

In the 1st Congressional District on the eastern edge of the state, Republican Carroll “Tumpy” Campbell III is laying the groundwork for a challenge to Brown, who prevailed in an unexpectedly tight race against self-funded Democrat Linda Kettner in 2008.

The son of former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell Jr. plans to base his run on the state’s economy and a critique of spending in Washington, said a strategist with the campaign.

“People are tired of business as usual in Washington and they want new leadership,” Campbell told the conservative blog the Palmetto Scoop.

Campbell has never held political office but would bring name recognition and personal resources to the race. He has opened a congressional fundraising committee and reported receiving $21,650 in contributions in the first three months of 2009.

Aides say Brown, 73, is definitely running again, and any attempts to run to the five-term incumbent’s right will be fruitless.

“If you’re going to try to out-conservative Henry Brown’s record it’s going to take some doing,” campaign consultant Robert C. Cahaly said. Voters “are not going to be fooled that someone is going to be more fiscally responsible” than Brown, the consultant said.

Brown has cast party-line votes a little less often in the past two years. On votes in which most Republicans took the opposite side than most Democrats, Brown voting with the GOP 92 percent of the time in 2008 and 90 percent of the time in 2007, down from a high of 97 percent in 2006, according to CQ’s party unity analysis.

Inglis voted with the Republican party 93 percent of the time in 2008 and 94 percent in 2007.

Like Inglis, Brown had a slow first quarter of fundraising, pulling in just over $22,000. But he is sitting on a comfortable cushion — $482,000 in the bank at the close of March.

Democrats Watch and Wait

South Carolina Democrats are watching the Republican primaries with glee, believing they could heighten their chances for an upset in the governor’s race and the 1st District. The 3rd District and 4th District seats in the House are not competitive for Democrats.

Ketner has not ruled out another run at Brown and South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Director Jay Parmley said he was “very hopeful that she might make that race again.”

“We’re thrilled,” Parmley said. In a multi-person primary, Brown will “have to spend money to keep his seat.”

Robert Barber, the Democrats’ lieutenant governor candidate in 2006, also has been mentioned as a possible candidate.

And like the Republicans, Democrats see political opportunity in the debate over accepting federal stimulus dollars.

“Gov. Sanford has made this the seminal issue going into 2010 and the question we will ask of any Republican nominee or candidate is: Do you agree with this governor’s decision,” Parmley said.

South Carolina Republican Party Executive Director Jay W. Ragley said the GOP is not concerned about competitive primaries, calling them “a positive” for the party. “It expands our base and it tests our candidates,” he said.