The Cheat Sheet: Democratic Debate Edition

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Get your bingo cards ready for the Democratic forum tonight, dear Cheat Sheeters! Buzz words like "Feel the Bern," "e-mails," and "Who?" are key to a victory tonight, for you at least.

THE CAMPAIGN: All eyes are on Winthrop University tonight as the three remaining Democratic presidential candidates talk it out on stage. Winthrop has had a good week. The University's November poll was released earlier this week, indicating Hillary Clinton's change in campaign strategy from 2008 may be paying off in the Palmetto State. It also didn't hurt that Joe Biden decided not to hop in the race. According to the poll, about 36 percent of the voters polled said they would have voted for Biden instead of Hillary.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush made a brief trip to Lexington on Tuesday as part of his "Jeb Can Fix It" tour, but it remains to be seen if the former front-runner can fix his slide in the polls. At the half-full Lexington VFW, Bush gave a pretty well-rounded speech, way better than his Colorado debate performance. But one person in the crowd asked the question everyone was thinking but didn't say: "How are you going to beat Donald Trump?"

THE RELIEF: House Lawmakers want to put a price tag on October's devastating flood, and the fact that agencies are still calculating the costs have a few representatives irked.

During Thursday's Ways and Means Committee meeting, Florence Rep. Philip Lowe asked state Transportation Department Secretary Christy Hall if she had an idea of how much damage was done to the state's infrastructure. Hall told the lawmaker she did not, and did not want to speculate. He asked for an estimate, and again she said she didn't have it. Lowe said they had to write the budget to cover the cost of flood damage. Hall pointed out that's exactly why she didn't want to give a number too early.

SCDOT may have a cost calculated by Thanksgiving.

Lawmakers were also dismayed by the fact FEMA, so far, won't reimburse county mosquito operations. Many lawmakers vented at state Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson over how bad the mosquitoes had gotten in each district, and warned if it's not taken care of, those pesky pests could drive down the state's tourist industry, among other businesses.

Stenson could only point out over and over that he didn't have control over federal rules.

THE WINNER: All the new elected officials -- There are a lot of new faces in county and municipal offices after this week's election. Welcome to the jungle, folks, and know that now the public's target is on your back.

THE LOSERS: Incumbents -- Play Vitamin C's "Graduation Song" for all the incumbents who will have to vacate their offices soon. It was an anti-incumbent election across the board in the state. Some municipal officials couldn't shake controversies surrounding their time in office this year. Some candidates just had bad luck. Better luck next term, ladies and gents.

THE TAKEAWAY: Buy a lot of OFF! this year. You're going to need it to keep away the bloodsuckers.

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