With nearly $2.1 million raised so far, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, a Republican from Westminster, continues to lead other candidates raising money to run for S.C. governor.
Barrett's campaign brought in nearly $328,000 in new money during the fourth quarter of 2009 and transferred more than $51,000 from his congressional account, according to financial disclosures filed this week with the State Ethics Commission.
The fundraising clip exceeds that of Gov. Mark Sanford's record-breaking pace in the 2002 Republican primary, according to Barrett's campaign.
"We hit our goal," said B.J. Boling, Barrett's spokesman, who said support from the National Rifle Association, the Club for Growth and business people statewide were key. "We have a lot of people who support the congressman because he's going to lead an economic turnaround in South Carolina."
Attorney General Henry McMaster, also seeking the Republican nomination for governor, was in a solid second place with nearly $1.5 million raised to date.
In the fourth quarter, McMaster, a Columbia Republican, raised about half of what Barrett did in new money - $162,000. McMaster also transferred nearly $189,000 from his attorney general's campaign account.
"We're ahead in the polls and among the leaders in the race for cash," said Rob Godfrey, spokesman for McMaster's campaign.
"What's most impressive is raising money didn't distract Henry from doing the job he's elected to do," Godfrey said, adding McMaster is spearheading efforts to crack down on domestic violence and Internet predators and to halt Nebraska's Medicaid deal in the federal health care reform plan.
Three other Republican contenders, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County and state Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington County have not filed their campaign disclosures yet. They have until Friday to do so without penalty.
Among the Democrats, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Kershaw County remains in the financial lead as he edges closer to the million-dollar mark.
The Camden attorney raised nearly $223,000 in the fourth quarter, including a $1,000 loan he gave his campaign. Overall, he's raised more than $958,000 this election cycle.
"When you take the transfers out, the difference in money raised between us and the Republicans is marginal," said Trav Robertson, Sheheen's campaign manager. "People believe in Sheheen and his message."
The Sheheen campaign had braced for a poor fundraising quarter because of the recession and the holidays, Robertson said. "But our supporters and donors pulled through," he said.
Fellow Democrat and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod brought in nearly $103,000 during the quarter. He has raised $482,000 in total, including a $100,000 loan and $13,000 of McLeod's personal money.
State Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston County raised more than $41,000 in the final quarter and nearly $93,000 total. That includes a $25,000 loan and nearly $3,000 in Ford's personal money.
Two Democrats, Columbia attorney Dwight Drake and State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, have not yet filed financial statements.
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