Updated: Candidates release new fund totals

Note: This story has corrected 4Q campaign totals for Rep. Nikki Haley

Three more gubernatorial candidates, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Lexington County's Nikki Haley and Columbia attorney Dwight Drake, disclosed Tuesday how much money they have raised in the past 12 weeks.

Bauer raised more than $219,000 in the fourth quarter, transferred more than $639,000 from his lieutenant governor account and loaned his campaign $236,000.

That means Bauer has brought in nearly $1.1 million, putting him in third place financially behind U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and state Attorney General Henry McMaster, who have raised $2.1 million and nearly $1.5 million respectively.

"Bauer reporting $1.2 million (cash) on hand far exceeds any money raised for any candidate that we know of who hasn't officially announced," said Larry Marchant, Bauer's spokesman.

Even if Bauer, known for his retail politics, is unable to catch up with Barrett and McMaster, his campaign said it's not worried.

"Andre Bauer was outspent three to one in the past two elections he's won," Marchant said.

Haley, R-Lexington, brought in nearly $200,000 for the quarter and more than $560,000 in total. Her fundraising puts Haley in last place financially.

Unlike Barrett, Bauer and McMaster, Haley has not transferred any money from her House fund.

Her campaign credits readers of redstate.com for about $20,000 in donations. The national conservative blog has prominently featured Haley for her conservative credentials, including a push to get all State House votes on the record.

While many of the redstate.com donors don't live in South Carolina and can't vote for Haley in the June primary, her campaign said Tuesday the national exposure is helpful and will translate to S.C. votes.

Haley, an ally of Gov. Mark Sanford who was endorsed by first lady Jenny Sanford, may have been handicapped in the race in the wake of revelations that Gov. Sanford secretly left the state to visit his lover.

Haley's campaign remains optimistic they can raise the necessary money to be competitive.

"Realistically, we're never going to have as much money as Barrett," said Tim Pearson, Haley's spokesman. "He has a (Washington) D.C. base which Nikki doesn't have which is OK. We have a message that carries. We'll have every dollar we need to win."

Haley may have also gotten a boost from Tuesday's news Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, is dropping out of the race.

"Grooms had made some in-roads to reach out to people who are very conservative," Pearson said. "When those voters start looking around for another candidate, the logical place to go is Nikki. She fits with what they're about."

Grooms has not filed for the fourth quarter.

Among the Democratic contenders, Dwight Drake, a Columbia attorney and former lobbyist, raised more than $210,000 for the 12-week period. So far, Drake has raised slightly more than $500,000, including a $50,000 donation he gave his campaign.

"I'm very, very pleased with where we are," Drake said, adding he initially had hoped to only raise $150,000 because the quarter included the Christmas holidays.

Drake said his message of job creation is resonating with voters. "I'm the only candidate who has a record of bringing jobs here," Drake said, referring to his helping to bring BMW to South Carolina.

That puts Drake in second place behind financial front-runner Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, who brought in nearly $223,000 this quarter and more than $958,000 since the election cycle began.

Two other Democrats, Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston County and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod are bringing up the rear, raising $41,000 and $103,000 respectively this quarter.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, also running as a Democrat, has not filed yet. Rex has until Friday to file his financial forms to the state Ethics Commission without penalty.