The Vincent Sheheen campaign had given this morning’s announcement in the Upstate enough of a buildup — starting the end of last week — that I had started thinking it was “big, big — really big, Andy,” as Barney would say.

So big, in fact, that I held the virtual presses for awhile on today’s front page, just in case the news was big enough for that. What would have been big enough? Dwight Drake — but I knew that if it were Dwight, they’d do it in the Midlands. Dick Riley — although he has indicated that he wants to stay out of the primary. Jim Hodges? Perhaps, since I know he has stayed out of it up until now but not ruled out choosing a candidate (and since his name had originally been connected — erroneously — with the Drake candidacy, it occurred to me that while he hadn’t wanted to endorse Dwight, maybe he hadn’t wanted to endorse against him, and maybe this freed him up… but that’s just really thinking about it too hard, isn’t it?).

But it was none of the above. When I found out through back-channels who it was, I went ahead and let the page go. Here’s the release that came out later, while I was at Rotary:

Former Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore and Former Speaker of the SC House Rex Carter Endorse Sheheen

Greenville, SC — Today former South Carolina Lt. Governor Nick Theodore, who served two terms from 1987-1995, and former South Carolina House Speaker Rex Carter, who served as Speaker from 1973-1980, endorsed State Sen. Vincent Sheheen in his campaign for governor. The endorsements took place at a press conference held at the YWCA in downtown Greenville this morning.

“The governor of South Carolina can move us forward, and Vincent Sheheen has that ability,” said Theodore. “Serving in the House of Representatives and serving in the Senate, he has worked closely with both sides of the aisle, and I know he’ll do that as governor.”

Theodore continued, “He understands very well that an educated workforce is the only way South Carolina can compete with other states in the nation in a global economy.”

Sen. Sheheen joined the former Lt. Governor and former Speaker, thanking both for their support.

“I’m excited to be here with my friends in the Upstate,” said Sen. Sheheen, “and I’m honored to have the support of Lt. Governor Theodore and Speaker Carter, two men with such a strong record of service to the people of South Carolina.”

“It’s important that we learn from past examples of good leadership as we look to the future and chart our path to make South Carolina a better place to live and work,” continued Sheheen.

The campaign endorsements of Theodore and Carter come on the heels of last week’s news that forty members of the South Carolina General Assembly are publicly supporting Sen. Sheheen in his campaign to be the state’s next governor. Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley endorsed Sheheen in January.

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Those would be pretty significant endorsements, if I hadn’t been expecting something bigger. And they indicate one thing, it seems to me — continued movement toward Vincent Sheheen becoming a fait accompli for the nomination. That doesn’t mean Jim Rex can’t pull it out, but the tide’s running against him.