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The State: Barrett Leads Money Race

elizabethdonehue — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:23:50 +0000

Fundraising totals for the financial quarter are in, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett still holds the fundraising lead over other Republican and Democratic contenders running for governor.

Excluding the money candidates have transferred from other accounts, as well as loans and gifts they have given to their campaigns, Barrett, a Westminster businessman, has raised $1.3 million to date.

While Attorney General Henry McMaster has about $1 million on hand, about 73 percent of it was transferred from his attorney general re-election account.

“Congressman Barrett’s conservative vision for job creation in South Carolina has struck a chord with voters and donors throughout the state,” said B.J. Boling, Barrett’s spokesman.

Once carryover money, loans and gifts are discounted, Democratic front-runner Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Kershaw County comes in second place. He has raised more than $730,000 -about half of Barrett’s total.

And surprisingly, state Rep. Nikki Haley, who posted low fundraising for the financial quarter that just ended, comes in third place with about $359,000 raised since she announced her candidacy.

STRATEGIES THAT WORK

The way to the governor’s office is paved with money.

And the candidates are using various strategies to fill their war chests to pay for campaign events, travel, staff and, in 2010, take their message to the air waves.

- Candidates, including Haley and state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, are using a straight-up strategy of asking supporters to write checks in lieu of loaning or giving their campaigns personal money. Haley, a Republican, brought in about $359,000 in the quarter that just ended while Rex, a Democrat, raised nearly $82,000.

- Some, like Attorney General Henry McMaster, are transferring money from other re-election accounts into their gubernatorial accounts. Nearly 73 percent, or about $800,000 of McMaster’s $1.1 million, has come from his attorney general account. When the transfers are excluded, McMaster’s team has raised nearly $303,000. Barrett transferred $328,0000 of his nearly $1.7 million total from his congressional account.

“We are extremely proud so many of Attorney General McMaster’s past contributors have given us permission to transfer their donations to his campaign for governor,” said Rob Godfrey, McMaster’s spokesman, noting that each donor has given written permission to transfer his or her donation from McMaster’s 2006 re-election campaign to his gubernatorial campaign account.

- Others, like state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod, are relying on large personal loans and gifts. Grooms, a Republican, took out a $260,000 loan to fund his campaign and raised about $74,000. McLeod, a Democrat, gave his campaign $100,000 and raised $280,000.

It doesn’t matter how candidates get the money, said Bruce Haynes, a Virginia-based political consultant who has worked on South Carolina campaigns.

It only matters that they have it to spend, he said.

“The strategy that works best is the one that gets you the most money in the bank the soonest,” Haynes said. “Most voters don’t look deep to understand the process of why you’re leading in fundraising. They just understand you have more money than anyone else and that superficially indicates that you have more support than anyone else.”

But political fundraiser Elizabeth Donahue disagrees. She said the amount a candidate raises, excluding loans and transfers, is the real test of his or her campaign’s strength and an indicator of how the candidate will fare in a race.

“It actually shows the level of support they’re getting from voters,” said Donahue, owner of the Columbia-based Donahue Agency. “The person who is really raising money, not taking out loans and doing transfers, is the front-runner.”

Gina Smith

(803) 771-8658

The State: Even Politics Feels Effects of Recession

elizabethdonehue — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:28:07 +0000

The struggling S.C. economy could mean shorter-than-usual 2010 campaigns for offices including governor, U.S. Senate and the State House.

Why?

The down economy is cutting into contributions to political candidates.

Political fundraisers say they are working harder than ever, using new techniques to raise money, and still many regular contributors are declining to give.

Individuals have less money to give, as do businesses and political action committees.

“Candidates are working harder, keeping donors motivated,” said Wendy Homeyer, whose Columbia-based Homeyer Strategy Group helps raise money for more than a dozen members of the State House, most Republicans. “They’re having to open their Rolodex again and look at different methods of bringing in donors.”

Homeyer said many candidates are pushing for small, frequent donations, a fundraising method that helped President Barack Obama break campaign finance records.

Also, when they cannot collect a check now, candidates are looking to collect pledges for future contributions, Homeyer said. “They’re creating a payment plan.”

Elizabeth Donehue of Columbia also helps raise money for political candidates, as well as groups and associations. But, she said, last year’s presidential and State House elections have tapped out frequent givers.

“It’s tough and it’s going to be tough,” said Donehue, who fundraises primarily for Republican candidates. “We’re coming off this election cycle and people are burnt out. … Folks were just asked from all corners.”

Homeyer and Donehue said the tight-fisted political donors are making it more important than ever for candidates to bank the money that is available — and, equally important, keep it out of an opponent’s account.

For example, 1st District U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, a Republican from Hanahan, held back $500,000 from his tough November general election challenge for the 2010 election cycle, said Rod Shealy Sr. of Irmo, Brown’s campaign consultant.

Why?

It was obvious in November that political money would be scarce during the next cycle, Shealy said.

“That turns out to be a pretty crafty move,” said Shealy, who specializes in running shoestring campaigns. “The down economy could definitely impact the upcoming elections.”

Shealy has a long-standing relationship with another candidate eyeing a 2010 race — Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

With fellow Republicans Gresham Barrett of Westminster, the 3rd District congressman, and Henry McMaster of Columbia, S.C. attorney general, Bauer is a likely candidate to succeed Mark Sanford, who is barred from a third term. On the Democratic side, state Rep. James Smith of Columbia is expected to run.

The governor’s race isn’t the only 2010 contest on the election card. Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of Greenville will be seeking re-election and is expected to draw Democratic opposition.

Less money and fewer donations will level the playing field among all the 2010 candidates, said Shealy. The longer the economy struggles, the more likely voters are to hold it against incumbents, said the Republican consultant.

Both Shealy and Donehue said the embattled economy could mean campaigns will delay the start of their television advertising until closer to election day.

“Pushing things back is a smart idea,” Donehue said. “It gives folks a break.”

Added Shealy: “It won’t shorten the campaign, but it will shorten the television campaign. To most voters, the television campaign is the campaign.”

By JOHN O’CONNOR
joconnor@thestate.com