Jay Stamper in 2014 SC Senate debate

On War & Peace: Don't go on "war footing" against Russia over Ukraine

Obama warned of "costs" if Russia moved into Ukraine, and was on the phone Saturday with Putin, telling him to pull out. Obama called Putin's actions a "clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to a White House statement. It was the first conversation between Obama and Putin since the crisis escalated, and the exchange was a testy one, White House officials said.

On Abortion: Limiting abortion isn't limited-government conservatism

During a lunch with Spartanburg County Democrats, Stamper attacked Sen. Lindsey Graham's loyalty to conservative principles and said spending trillions of dollars on foreign engagements isn't fiscal conservatism, limiting abortion and marriage isn't limited government conservatism, and supporting the National Security Administration's data collection isn't constitutional conservatism.

"I will settle for their grudging and reluctant support," Stamper said of Republicans and independents he hopes to sway.

On Corporations: Stop giving away millions in corporate welfare

On Crime: Pleaded guilty to three white-collar felony charges in 2006

"I never meant to hurt anyone. There was no malice. In a way I was reckless, but there were mitigating circumstances," he said. Stamper moved to South Carolina a year ago to run for Graham's seat, and despite his history, he said he has found most people welcoming.

On Foreign Policy: Trillions on foreign engagements isn't fiscal conservatism

During a lunch with Spartanburg County Democrats, Stamper attacked Sen. Lindsey Graham's loyalty to conservative principles and said spending trillions of dollars on foreign engagements isn't fiscal conservatism, limiting abortion and marriage isn't limited government conservatism, and supporting the National Security Administration's data collection isn't constitutional conservatism.

"I will settle for their grudging and reluctant support," Stamper said of Republicans and independents he hopes to sway.

On Civil Rights: Asked by Party to exit race after supporting gay marriage

Several days after my announcement, a state party official summoned me to his office. To my disbelief he tried to persuade me to drop out of the race. I said no thanks.

Apparently, certain well-connected "party elders" believe that my candidacy is a distraction that will only hurt Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen by highlighting his opposition to marriage equality and women's reproductive rights.

Now, my campaign is meeting resistance from the last place I expected: from within the state party establishment. I'm proud to be a Democrat. But the party is more than just a handful of well-connected insiders sitting in an office building. It's you, it's me, it's millions of "ordinary" people across the country who believe in equal rights and equal opportunity for all. I'm not going to back down.

On Homeland Security: NSA domestic spying included innocent U.S. citizens

In June, Senator Graham defended NSA surveillance practices, saying they are "limited to tracking people who are suspected to be terrorists."

The NSA has now disclosed that one of its programs illegally intercepted thousands of domestic emails and communications annually for at least three years before informing the FISA court. "Lindsey Graham was aware of NSA privacy violations and deliberately misled South Carolinians," said Stamper. "Accordingly, I call on Senator Graham to apologize to the people of South Carolina."

Graham said back in June: "I'm glad the NSA is trying to find out what the terrorists are up to overseas and in our country. I'm glad that activity is going on, but it is limited to tracking people who are suspected to be terrorists."