The state Democratic Party's decision to choose a candidate without holding a special primary election drew widespread criticism across the state. On September 3, "The Greenville News" ran an editorial advocating that a primary election be called and several newspapers across the state followed suit. At least six county Democratic committees repudiated the action by the state committee and called for a primary election. Despite repeated calls for a primary, the state executive committee voted against holding a primary because they did not think that there was enough time before the general election to hold a primary election.