PICKENS COUNTY — Phillip Bowers, for one is happy that the primary season is over.

The chairman of the Pickens County Republican Party sent out an E mail Tuesday night in an attempt to unite the party for its efforts in the November general elections.

“We’ve been fighting our brothers and sister Republicans for the last few months, a family feu of sorts, but we still love them,” Bowers said.

Bowers, who supported Gresham Barrett in the race for the party’s nomination for Governor, warned that holding grudges from the primaries could be fatal for the party’s hopes in the general election.

“The media and other Democrats will try and drag us back into the primary mode in the days to come, but we can’t let them do that,” Bowers said. “The media and other Democrats act like this is the first time we’ve ever had a primary. It’s not; primaries are always stressful, but it’s a process we have to endure.”

Bowers cited as an example the race for the nomination for Governor between Mark Sanford and Bob Peeler for the party’s nomination for Governor in 2002.

“That got really heated, but once we selected our nominee, we came together and beat the Democrats.”

Bowers did not cite another example in which an issue, not a candidate divided the Republican support in the Governor’s race.

In 1998, Gov. David Beasley seemed a sure bet to win re-election. But Beasley began a campaign to have the Confederate Flag removed from the statehouse, which enraged many of the party’s more conservative voters.

Beasley also had worked to rid the state of poker machines, leading to a well-financed opposition campaign against him that used the Confederate Flag issue to stir support away from the Governor.

Democrat Jim Hodges won the Governor’s race that year. Ironically, Hodges was the state’s chief executive when the Confederate Flag was actually removed from flying atop of the Statehouse, and when poker machines were finally banned in the state.

Hodges was defeated by Sanford in the 2002 general election.

Bowers asked that party members avoid using single issues to divide the party on more important matters.

“We now need to focus all of our energy on the bully next door,” Bowers said. “We have our candidates, now new must unite to defeat the real enemy: the Democrats.”

Bowers said he hopes his fellow Republicans will join him in the united effort.

“Many want us to continue our little family feud, but I’m committed to unity and winning in November. I hope you are too.”