COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Henry McMaster’s campaign for lieutenant governor reported nearly $103,000 available to spend Friday, just 18 days before voters head to the polls.
McMaster’s pre-election disclosure report shows he has raised more than $225,400 since March 31, with 93 percent of those donations coming from South Carolinians. Campaign manager Jeff Taillon says fundraising continues.
State law requires candidates to file a report at least 15 days before an election. Taillon says they’re filing early since that deadline falls on Memorial Day.
McMaster, a former two-term attorney general, jumped into the race in late March. The 66-year-old former state GOP chairman is among four Republicans seeking the state’s No. 2 spot. His filing comes after Monday’s release of his first statewide TV ad, featuring his bulldog, Boots.
Retired Kiawah Island developer Pat McKinney, 64, was the first Republican to announce his bid last fall. He raised more than McMaster in his first quarter of fundraising, at more than $276,000, plus loaned himself $245,000, according to his disclosure report filed last October. He had about $545,000 available as of March 31, according to his latest filing. That was before he became the first candidate in the race to release a TV ad. His campaign plans to file his pre-election report on Monday. McKinney said last week he’s willing to loan himself more money.
Others in the June 10 primary are Mike Campbell, the younger son of the late Gov. Carroll Campbell, and retired Army chaplain Ray Moore.
Campbell, 45, also jumped into the race in late March. He has not released an ad but wrapped up a seven-day tour Friday of the state’s 46 counties. He had not yet filed a pre-election report.
Moore, 70, said he expects to report over the weekend raising more than $19,000 since March 31. He will have less than $10,000 cash in the bank after releasing a radio ad Thursday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.