Walterboro, SC - The competition to land Boeing’s business heats up across the country. The Governor of Washington makes a powerful pitch to keep Boeing in the Pacific Northwest. Tonight Governor Mark Sanford (web | news) breaks down how South Carolina will answer back.

At the end of the day, Sanford says this is a business deal. He will show Boeing why this location makes financial sense.

Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs are at stake as Boeing weighs its options. Charleston and Everett Washington sit atop a short list of possible sights for a new assembly line. Governor Sanford, speaking at the Rotary Club in Walterboro, says the final say will boil down to what’s best for Boeing.

“What we hope to do is show and make the case as to why its in there commercial best interest to come to North Charleston rather then stay out there in Seattle,” said Governor Sanford.

Leaders in Seattle are launching an all out campaign to keep Boeing. Front and center is Washington Governor Chris Gregorie who provided the aerospace giant with a 32 page report detailing why the new line must stay. Sanford says South Carolina is taking a quiet approach.

“We are not doing it with press releases and publicity, because I don’t think that’s the best interest of the negotiation process,” said Governor Sanford.

Sanford made strong push to bring in Vought aircrafts during his first term, That facility is now Boeing Charleston, and Sanford says he will make a similar effort this time around.

Workers at Boeing Charleston voted to break away from the machinists Union, Sanford says that move along with South Carolina’s right to work status is an advantage for the state.

A Boeing spokeswoman confirms the company did file permits with North Charleston to clear land for a possible expansion. She says it’s a procedural move and does not indicate the company made a decision. Boeing is expected to decide where to place the new assembly line by the end of the year.

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