Sheheen fundraising hits $700,000

Sen. Vincent Sheheen, a Democrat running for governor, has reached his $700,000 fund-raising goal for the first three quarters of the year.

Sheheen, a Camden attorney and Democratic front-runner, announced at a Greenville fund-raising stop Tuesday that he's raised a total of about $700,000 since he announced his run. For the quarter that ends today, Sheheen has raised about $190,000.

Two Republican contenders, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Attorney General Henry McMaster, have raised more than $1 million each.

All gubernatorial candidates must report their fund-raising for this quarter by Oct. 10.

Haley holding fundraiser Tuesday at Hudsons

Lexington Rep. Nikki Haley, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, is holding a fundraiser Tuesday evening.

The event, which costs $25, will be held at Hudson's Smokehouse at 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m. 4952 Sunset Boulevard.

Campbell expected to make bid for Congress

Republican Carroll Campbell III is expected to announced a bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, who represents the Charleston area.

Campbell will hold a news conference Wednesday in Mount Pleasant. Campbell will make subsequent campaign stops in Georgetown and Myrtle Beach.

Campbell, of Charleston, is the president of Carroll Campbell and Associates, a communications consultant. He is the son of the late Carroll Campbell Jr., who served two terms as governor.

 

Steele defends Wilson; asks for money

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is circulating a petition demanding congressional Democrats end the calls to discipline U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. This week, the House passed a resolution largely along party lines that said it disapproved of Wilson calling President Obama a liar during a joint session on Congress.

Steele also uses the petition to solicit money for the Republicans media pushback against Democrats, Obama and the party's plan to reform health care.

Wilson on Fox News Channel

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson on Fox News Channel with Chris Wallace. In the interview Wallace said he will not apologize again for yelling "you lie" at President Obama during a joint session of Congress.

 

Drake to McMaster: Remove Sanford

Democratic gubernatorial contender Dwight Drake reiterated his call Friday for the state's constitutional officers to remove Gov. Mark Sanford from office or explain why they won't.

In a letter to Attorney General Henry McMaster who is also running for governor, Drake wrote "the only activity Sanford has engaged in other than vacations has been his non-stop shame and apology tour, now coupled with his daily press conferences attempting to defend against the allegations of improper and illegal use of planes." 

Sanford investigating others' travel

Gov. Mark Sanford is asking state research universities about their use of planes to conduct business.

In a letter sent yesterday, Sanford's office is asking those universities -- which include Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina -- about how often university officials fly and why. The letter specifically requests both state-owned planes and those owned or leased by a university foundation.

"Given some of the media's allegations, I am trying to get a better understanding of how different state organizations use airplanes in South Carolina," Sanford's chief legal counsel Swati Patel wrote.

Scott opens bid for lt. governor with $150,000

Freshman Rep. Tim Scott, R-Charleston, has raised $150,000 in his bid to become lieutenant governor.

Last year Scott became the first African American Republican elected to the Legislature in more than 100 years.

He is a former member of the Charleston County Council, where he served 13 years.

Scott is likely to be joined in the field in Republican field by Florence County Councilman Ken Ard, Lexington Rep. Ted Pitts and Orangeburg attorney Bill Connor.

According to the latest reports with the S.C. Ethics Commission, Ard has $102,000 on hand, Connor has $38,000 on hand and Pitts has $11,000 on hand.

S.C. voters will go to the polls in June to select the Republican and Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a two-term Republican, is expected to run for governor.

Drake video calls for Sanford's removal

McMaster to annouce at Columbia small business

Attorney General Henry McMaster will make a formal announcement about his plans to enter the 2010 governor's race at a Columbia small business Tuesday at 11 a.m.

McMaster, who is expected to seek the Republican nomination for governor, will outline his economic development plan at Thermal Engineering Corporation in Columbia.