McLeod Pledges to Finish Term as Governor

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod pledged he would not run for any higher offices if elected governor, and challenged other candidates to do the same.

A State analysis of Gov. Mark Sanford's calendar showed Sanford had spent more in time the past two years on national issues and a possible presidential run and less time on state issues than when he first took office in 2003.

Is Drake the only Democrat ready to debate?

It looks like Democrat Dwight Drake is the only one up for a Nov. 2 debate.

Phil Noble, head of the S.C. New Democrats, and others were attempting to organize a TV debate for that date.

But, according to e-mails provided to The State, Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden, state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod had too much to do to make the event.

Drake said Wednesday he was surprised he was the sole Democrat up for the televised event.

"I got an e-mail that said the others didn't want to debate because the others didn't have time to prepare," said Drake, a Columbia attorney and former lobbyist. "I can't imagine anyone deciding to run and not being ready to debate."

But campaign officials for both McLeod and Sheheen say they declined to participate because another televised debate had already been scheduled for Nov. 3 in Orangeburg. The two campaigns said it made more sense to spread the debates further apart. "Maybe all that lobbying work Dwight has done for the hazardous waste industry has polluted his memory," said Lachlan McIntosh, McLeod's spokesman, Wednesday.

Now, the S.C. New Democrats are considering a January debate.

Wilson will hold town hall meetings

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson will be holding a series of town hall meetings in his district Saturday. Wilson, who gained national attention by yelling "you lie" to the president during a joint session of Congress, has vowed to continue to fight against the health care reform bill making its way through Congress. Wilson, a Lexington Republican, said the town hall meetings have been critical in helping him measure opposition to health care reform.

Haley has $148,000 quarter; trails GOP rivals

Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington,a gubernatorial candidate, has raised nearly $148,000 in the third quarter. She now has about $273,000 heading into the next quarter.

Haley trails far behind U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Attorney General Henry McMaster who each have about $1 million in their war chests as well as Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County who reported Monday more than $300,000 on hand. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who has yet to make a formal announcement of his candidacy, raised $262,000 and now has $825,000 on hand.

Haley is considered Gov. Mark Sanford's gubernatorial pick, a fact that some politicos speculate is hurting her fundraising ability. 

Bauer raises $262,000 in third quarter

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, in his unofficial run for governor, has raised nearly $262,000 in the third quarter.

Bauer, 40, who has not officially announced his run yet, now has about $825,000 on hand to fuel his campaign. Bauer has said he plans to announce his candidacy by the end of October if Gov. Mark Sanford does not resign.

Bauer’s fundraising totals put him in third place among Republicans. He has not transferred any money from his lieutenant governor account into his gubernatorial account, according to his campaign.

DeMint announces re-election bid in video

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican who was thrust into the national spotlight for his opposition to President Obama's health care reform, formally announced his plans to run for a second term.

DeMint made the announcement in this video. He has no Republican opposition, and DeMint is expected to have a pair of Democrats run for the right to face him in a general election.

Drake has a $300,000 quarter

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dwight Drake has raised $300,295 in the seven weeks since he declared his candidacy, according to a campaign news release.

Drake, a Columbia attorney and former lobbyist, may have posted the largest fundraising quarter among Democrats. Candidates have until next week to disclose with the S.C. Ethics Commission how much money they've raised over the past three months.

Thursday Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod announced he had raised $210,000 this financial quarter. That include $100,000 the Charleston attorney donated to his own campaign. Earlier this week Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, said he raised about $230,000 this quarter. 

Barrett rips Obama's Nobel Prize win

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett issued the following statement on Barack Obama's Nobel Prize win.

“Congratulations to President Obama on his prize. I'm not sure what the international community loved best; his waffling on Afghanistan, pulling defense missiles out of Eastern Europe, turning his back on freedom fighters in Honduras, coddling Castro, siding with Palestinians against  Israel, or almost getting tough on Iran. The world may love it, but following in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter is not where America needs to go.  Hopefully, this surprise award will give the President cause to reevaluate his current course.”

Wilkins to lead GOP fundraising effort

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and Speaker of the South Carolina House David Wilkins will chair the fundraising efforts for the SC Republican Party’s recently launched “Milliken Match” drive, the party announced Thursday.

Wilkins agreed to lead the effort announced last week, the goal of which is to pay off all of the mortgage debt held by the Republican Party, and to make sustainability upgrades to the SC GOP Headquarters.

Upstate textile magnate Roger Milliken agreed to pay half of the Party’s mortgage, so long as the other half could be raised by the party. 

Wilson raises $2.7 million this quarter

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a Lexington County Republican, has raised more than $2.7 million from more than 50,000 individual donors this financial quarter. The campaign will report over $2.6 million cash on hand in its report with the Federal Election Commission, according to the campaign.

Wilson, once a little known S.C. politician, has gained national notoriety after he yelled "You lie!" at President Barack Obama last month during the president's joint address of Congress on health care reform. Wilson's Democratic challenger Rob Miller has not posted his contributions yet. Miller has until Oct. 15 to report his quarterly fund raising to the Federal Election Commission.