We get a lot of weird emails over here, and this is the fruit of one of the weirdest, and most entertaining. Behold, the rhyme of the S.C. primary.

“We Got a Primary”
Jim Clyburn robo-callin’ me all day like a stalker ex
Vinny Sheheen sayin’ ain’t no runoff with Jim Rex
Kelly Payne damn changin’ the game for ed
Joe Wilson all “You lie” — oh, no, that’s what Haley said
What, what — it’s the primary down here in S.C.
What, what, got CNN, Chuck Todd, MSNBC
What, what, got Jakie Knotts, two more shots, burning crosses in Santee
What, what, know Wes Wolfe can only vote absentee

Callin’ all you Tea Party yellow coiled snake flag wavers
McMaster clowns got Will Folks doin’ Andre Bauer favors
Got emails, videos, private eyes out takin’ pictures
Bill Connor goin’ all “Too much of this” on Larry Richter
Everybody tweetin’ “Where the party at tomorrow evenin’?”
Bauer got a bus full of young chicks, cross the state line he leavin’
What, what it’s the primary down in Succa-lina
What, what, got national politicos sayin’ “Mmmmmm, nothin’ fine-uh”
What, what, got Gina Smith and her homeboy John O’Connah
What, what, got a primary down in Succa-lina
What, what, got a primary down in Succa-line

We don’t give much truck to campaign ads, whether they’re on television or radio. Maybe it’s because they’re just not our bailiwick. Broadcast, whether it’s journalism or advocacy, is for someone else. We’ll stick to anything that’s more written word than moving image or spoken word. But it’s Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster‘s ad, “Vultures,” that struck us today as maybe wrong.

“Wrong,” you ask. “What are you, some kind of socialist? How does your totalitarianism taste, Ivan?” No, no, it has nothing to do with so much as that. It’s more about the premise. See, the ad analogizes Congress, President Barack Obama, pretty much anybody that supports the Democratic form of health care reform as a vulture descending on our state to take away your rights — we don’t have health coverage (too expensive, natch), so we have no rights to take away. We’re also not dead. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you have to be a cadaver, a dead body (or close to it), for vultures to come after your ass, a posterior which would likely be decomposing in the hot sun.

Vultures seldom attack healthy animals, but may kill the wounded or sick. When a carcass has too thick a hide for its beak to open, it waits for a larger scavenger to eat first. Vast numbers have been seen upon battlefields. They gorge themselves when prey is abundant, till their crop bulges, and sit, sleepy or half torpid, to digest their food. They do not carry food to their young in their claws, but disgorge it from the crop. These birds are of great value as scavengers, especially in hot regions. Vulture stomach acid is exceptionally corrosive, allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with Botulinum toxin, hog cholera, and anthrax bacteria that would be lethal to other scavengers. This also enables them to use their reeking, corrosive vomit as a defensive projectile when threatened. Vultures urinate straight down their legs; the uric acid kills bacteria accumulated from walking through carcasses, and also acts as evaporative cooling.

If vultures won’t go after you unless you’re seriously nearing death or already dead, that seems to make them rather the polar opposite of insurance companies. But it’s unlikely such companies metaphorically piss down their legs. Guilt can unlikely be removed by uric acid, no matter how caustic it is. Though, that’s neither here nor there.

The issue of using the vultures is that it’s simply a bad analogy that depends on the ignorance of the voters to get its point across. The birds are unattractive, nosh on corpses and are generally creepy. They conjure bad images, but they’re not going to swoop out of the sky and attack you at your latest Tea Party rally. Running with a carrion bird, though, looks silly.

How much more brainstorming could it have taken to discover some pack animals that have been known to attack people. Living people, perhaps. Or maybe something about “sharks in the water.” Yeah, sharks rarely attack unless threatened or otherwise stressed, but it’s a sure as shit better metaphor than vultures.

The tables have been turned in the money race in the campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. Lt. Gov. André Bauer, after trailing for much of the race, has jumped out in front. For the past several periods, it was U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, followed by Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, but no longer. Not only did Bauer raise the most money between April 1 and the pre-election report, but he has the most money on hand as the campaign enters the homestretch. Though Rep. Nikki Haley received some money via out-of-staters Sarah Palin and Erick Erickson recently (can’t trust Vikings or Alaskans, can you?), it’s doubtful she can even come close to the front-runners.

GRESHAM BARRETT
Contributions: $209,046.47
(In kind: $18,050.15)
Expenditures: $1,127,641.46
Cash on hand: $647,626.59

Significant contributions
Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd State-Local PAC, $3,500
Political action committee
Citizens United Political Victory Fund, $500
Political action committee
The Presidential Coalition LLC, $500
Political action committee allied with Citizens United
Katrina Shealy, $100, $50
Former state Senate candidate
Cynthia Costa, $500, $250
RNC committeewoman
Daniel Rickenmann, $400
Columbia city councilman
James Edwards, $1,200
Former governor
South Carolina Good Government Committee, $3,500
PAC of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, $2,000
Insurance company
Virgil Goode for Congress, $250
Campaign committee
Cash American International, $1,500
Payday lending company
Burnie Maybank, $500
Former head, S.C. Department of Revenue

Significant disbursements
Creative Communications (media buy), $45,350, $244,763, $152,288, $128,926, $84,012, $8,000, $59,658
Scott F. Talley PA (legal fees), $2,500
Thompson Creative (media production), $25,233.50, $20,139.43
Ayres, McHenry & Associates (research), $16,194
Under the Power Lines (Web services), $2,750, $500, $2,500, $250, $2,750
First Tuesday Strategies (political consulting), $5,000×3, $350, $3,000
Drea Byers (fundraising consulting), $6,000×2
Starboard Communications (printing), $1,437.99, $8,872.26, $4,470.66, $355
On The Mark (printing), $359.52, $273.49, $270.92
LDR Services (media consulting), $25,966.54

HENRY MCMASTER
Contributions: $141,7905
(In kind: $14,135)
Expenditures: $1,029,613.03
Cash on hand: $545,443.81

Significant contributions
Kristin Maguire, $1,000
Former chairwoman, state board of education
Arthur Ravenel, $250
Former U.S. representative
Jason Zacher, $75
Public relations professional
Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd PA, $3,500
Law firm
George Shissias, $500
Power broker

Significant expenditures
BMH Consulting (expenses, consulting), $1,812.91, $7,620, $2,448, $1,623.77, $649.35, $5,756, $3,800, $321.44
Campaign Services (printing), $5,927.50, $1,451
Strategy Group for Media (media buy), $37,000, $252,874, $42,315, $70,470, $202,980, $215,480
Connell Donatelli (Web site), $3,933.93
Richard Quinn & Associates (tech, rent, expenses), $4,138.73, $29,663.09
Conquest Communications (telemarketing), $4,229.56
Campaign Solutions (Web site), $14,479.44, $4,398.48
The Philips Group (fundraising), $22,666

ANDRÉ BAUER
Contributions: $274,315.26
(In kind: $6,755.40)
Expenditures: $943,315.55
Cash on hand: $736,394.76

Significant contributions
Ravenel Development Corporation, $3,500
Developer
Steven Mungo, $1,000
Developer
Thomas Ravenel, $500
Former state treasurer

Significant expenditures
Dresner, Wickers & Associates (media buy), $114,100, $1,848.99, $8,940, $139,000, $130,400, $146,700
Alexon IT (Web site), $927.39, $704
SCPR Associates (sign supplies), $1,800, $9,621
S&S Strategies (film production, consulting), $14,933.74, $5,340.21, $3,000
Black Label Strategies (consulting), $2,125.50

NIKKI HALEY
Contributions: $102,761.82
(In kind: $7,604.33)
Expenditures: $245,426.51
Cash on hand: $387,347.85

Significant contributions
John Cattano, $1,000
Former S.C. Republican Party Treasurer
S.C. Club for Growth PAC, $3,500
Political action committee
Chad Walldorf, $3,500
Chairman of S.C. Club for Growth

Significant expenditures
Red Sea (ads, consulting), $161,573.15, $15,000

The big news today is the latest Rasmussen poll on the Republican gubernatorial race, showing that Rep. Nikki Haley is in the lead with 30 percent, followed by Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster at 19 percent, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett at 17 and Lt. Gov. André Bauer showing up at 12 percent. Haley’s Tea Party supporters are wetting their pants at this news, but we have a word for this sort of thing: “boomlet.” You don’t go to fourth to first in a week without that support being very, very weak.

Sorry to burst your bubble, kids, but the reason these sort of things happen — a fairly unknown candidate getting a big gain — is because that candidate gets a lot of earned media without being properly challenged or having their record adequately questioned, and voters can project whatever they want on that candidate. You see it all the time in presidential primaries.

There’s about three weeks until the primary. If Haley even makes it into the runoff, much less pulls anything like 30 percent, we’ll eat a bowl of improperly-cleaned chitlins.

The other Haley news of the week is how her campaign — wait, ReformSC — was totally pwn3d in court on Wednesday as a judge ordered the Sanford shell organization to pull their ads that are basically campaign ads for Gov. Mark Sanford‘s hand-picked successor.

Circuit Court Judge J. Mark Hayes II said in his temporary restraining order that the allegations from Barrett and three donors to ReformSC, which funded the ads, indicate — if true — a “coordinated scheme” that appears to be “intentionally designed to unlawfully evade accountability measures required by South Carolina law.”

The cherry on top of this cupcake of wonderful is that the attorney for the plaintiffs was none other than former Rep. Scott Talley, who encountered such coordinated schemes among the Sanford cabal to back his opponent for the GOP nomination for Senate, Sen. Lee Bright. So, it’s not hard to say that he knew exactly what he was doing and how to do it. The real damning part is that three ReformSC donors (Dan Adams, Jim Agostini and Russell Phelon) came forward to be a part of the suit. If it’s anything like it was when we looked into the organization a couple years ago, it only has so many couples, and a few individuals, providing it with its cash.

In granting the injunction, the judge writes something particularly pertinent: “As such, while this Court acknowledges the political setting from which the allegations arise, the Court cannot ignore the significance of the alleged unlawful conduct and evidence rendered by the Plaintiffs in this matter. Simply stated, a judge’s failure to act when he should act can be an abandonment of his duty, as Chief Justice Roberts analogized, as the referrer of justice. More importantly a judge’s failure to act due to the power or influence of those associated with alleged unlawful conduct is never acceptable in a society governed by the rule of law. As one commentator has recently stated ‘Justice is blind and no one is above it.’”

When will these Sanford jokers ever learn? Oh, right — they don’t think the rules apply to them.

We got caught up with some other things over the weekend, so one story that flew under the radar was allegations by voters around Aiken that there’s been some push-polling going on in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Via The Aiken Standard, people in three counties received phone calls from well-known firm Conquest Communications, in which the questions appeared to be slanted and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett was placed into a negative light.

“Why would you have a survey that ended that way if it was a real call?” asked Linda Tyner of Abbeville of her call Tuesday. “I felt it was a farce; it was a purely political move by someone seeing that Gresham Barrett doesn’t get elected. They tell outright lies.”

Tyner said she is a Barrett supporter. When she asked the party questioning her the response would have been if she had selected another candidate, she was informed there was no follow-up for any candidate other than Barrett.

When asked by two individuals whom the pollsters were representing, they replied “Conquest.” Conquest Communications Group is a Virginia-based firm that specializes in direct contact programs for campaigns.

All last week, there were rumors of such a thing going down, and that the campaign of Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster was to blame. According to Conquest’s client list, McMaster is the only candidate in the race retaining its services. Not surprisingly, McMaster campaign manager Trey Walker tried to spin it like the whole thing was on Barrett and his supporters. We wonder that as more revelations come out about McMaster’s mishandling of his rental properties, if that can be somehow flipped on a political opponent, too.

We’d say we were surprised by this sort of thing, but we’re not.

Apparently, most of the daily newspaper reporters in this state think it’s a better idea to write stories about debates and process stories that inform the electorate of exactly two things — jack, and shit. Thank God for the Free Times to actually do some investigative reporting, because you’re not going to see it from The State or The Post & Courier.

They’ve been running down stories in the past few weeks about Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and his rental properties. Oh, wait, we’re sorry, his wife’s rental properties. But you wouldn’t know that if you lived in one or lived next to one. It’s always Ol’ Henry showing up to deal with them, whether it’s in an SUV or his black Ford Crown Victoria. And it’s not just on the weekends. You’ll see him riding up, with one or two of his workers, during the week. That’s right. While South Carolina taxpayers are paying his salary, he takes off from the office to check up on properties that are technically not even his. Sometimes you’ll see him, sleeves rolled up, in the garage of the yellow house on the corner of Greene and Henderson, just hammerin’ away. Or sawing. Or whathaveyou.

Last week’s FT contained this gem:

As landlords, they are currently in litigation with the City of Columbia over one of those properties.

At issue is whether they are illegally housing too many occupants in a four-bedroom home adjacent to campus.

In 2007, a zoning administrator cited the property for a violation of occupancy rules. McMaster appealed the decision, testifying in front of the zoning board acting as his wife’s agent and attorney.

McMaster evoked the U.S. constitution at least 15 times in his testimony to the zoning board in response to the city’s complaint. The board upheld the zoning administrator’s decision, but McMaster appealed the decision and the case remains in limbo in front of a circuit court judge.

Inside the court papers of the pending litigation, a detailed, literary narrative details how some University Hill residents and city officials have perceived the McMasters as local landlords over the years.

In 2003, a neighbor sent a letter to the city and to the McMasters that outlined his concerns about their management of the property in question and oversight of their tenants.

“Two totally neglected dogs ran free, soiling the neighbor’s yards, or were tied for hours without proper attention,” the neighbor wrote. “Worse still, during their many parties, the humans also routinely used the space between our brick wall and [the] house as a urinal, and sometimes even as a commode.”

One tenant, the neighbor wrote, pitched a cigarette butt over a brick wall that burned through the top of his convertible.

“We will not tolerate the kind of disrespectful behavior that was demonstrated by your last tenants, and … we will hold you personally responsible for any such conduct,” he wrote.

The neighbor ended the letter by saying he’d sent copies to “many other neighbors who have suffered silently … this long year.”

And that’s not all. No sir, that’s not all. You’d likely never hear McMaster say a gay family was a “real” family, but we’d bet that if they were renting from him — oh, sorry, his wife — he’d defend them, because he’d be overcharging them for rent to stay in the choice area between Carolina and Five Points.

Only three unrelated people are allowed to live together in the house in question, according to city zoning officials. But McMaster has taken issue with how the city defines the house. In the complaint, the city calls it a rooming house.

“This is not a rooming house,” McMaster told the zoning board in 2007. “I believe that the South Carolina courts will say that this ordinance is unconstitutional.”

According to a memo by attorneys for the city, the McMasters question the constitutionality of certain provisions of a city ordinance. Specifically, the lawyers wrote, the McMasters challenge the definition of the word “family.” They argue that limiting the number of people living in a dwelling not related by blood or marriage “works unconstitutional harm on property owners and tenants.”

“In college towns,” the lawyers wrote in defense of the city, “it is not unusual to find friction between property owners, like McMaster, who wish to maximize their rental incomes by packing housing with flocks of students” and other property owners.

However, the lawyer continues, “The public’s interest in protecting the sanctity and peace of single-family areas plainly overrides the self-interest of landlords or property owners attempting to run mini-dorms.”

Naturally, his campaign spokesman Rob Godfrey saying, “If four female college students next door are a threat to property values, then the whole university-area real estate market is doomed for eternity.” Well, before we moved back into town, we visited for the Carolina-Auburn game. After the game, we went into a house owned by the McMasters with a girl who lived there. Nobody was downstairs. It was odd. We went upstairs with the girl, heard noises, and she opened the door to a room. Sitting there were two of her roommates — USC girls — and some Auburn dudes, doing cocaine off what Target would call a door mirror.

And, oh my, that’s isn’t all. The FT stories have barely cracked the surface of what we’ve been hearing for the past five years. It might be a good idea for the McMaster campaign to do some self-research and get some talking points prepared, because it’s only going to heat up in the last weeks before the primary.

Yep, doomed.

This year, as opposed to 2008 and 2006, Gov. Mark Sanford‘s lack of political capital has led his cabal of “independent” groups, non-profits and political consultants into a reality where they are no longer tightly united and starting to go their own way. Even his out-of-state allies aren’t on the script anymore. The national Club for Growth endorsed U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett for governor, while the S.C. Club for Growth, a typical close Sanford ally and member of said cabal, endorsed long-shot Rep. Nikki Haley.

Reform S.C., one of Sanford’s toady groups, is going on the air with new TV ads. Most people would say that it seems odd, considering it involves advocating for legislation this year, in particular. Where was the organization last year? Hm. And what’s the legislation? Well, that would be none other than a bill by Haley on more roll call voting. Color us surprised that the group’s first ads in some time are backing the Sanford candidate, one who is having significant fundraising trouble compared to the Big Three of Barrett, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. André Bauer.

It’s rather funny. And if there’s one thing that investigating Sanford’s groups told us, any conspiracy theory isn’t theory. The facts are likely more outrageous than what you could imagine.

At the S.C. Republican Party Silver Elephant event on Saturday, most of the statewide campaigns were out in force with stickers, palm cards, all the basics. Later on in the evening, and while attendees left, something else was being passed out. It was one of those fake dollar bill attack jobs that have become cliché these days. It was ripping U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, returning to that old line of how he voted on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (it’s a tarp!).

Who exactly was doing all this? The people passing out the pieces appeared to be young volunteers, so no help there. Well, it’s a political thing — there had to be a “paid for by” bit on it. Sure enough, it says “Paid for by BailOnBarrett.com.” We get home and think, OK, let’s look up this site and see what we can find out. But that’s the problem. It’s not there.

The domain was registered with GoDaddy.com on February 18 of this year, through domainsbyproxy.com, which allows a registrant to hide their identity. Very curious. It would seem that the site was registered only as a way for a campaign to keep its hands clean.

We were told that Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster‘s people was behind this latest effort. And no wonder, with the evening’s straw poll showing a near-deadlock between Barrett and McMaster for the gubernatorial nomination.

Whoever is behind the effort, it would probably be a good idea to actually set up a site, since this is obviously clear political message laundering.

During a significant portion of our lives, we covered sports for a living. More often than not, a nosh wasn’t available, but for college games — even covering Blinn College football games — there would always be something. It’s an old joke that sportswriters live and die by the food at the events they’re at. For instance — Carolina football’s catered spread was woefully lacking. The Gamecock basketball set-up was much better.

So, naturally, downshifting into the sportswriter lizard brain, we have to again rave about the catering at the S.C. Republican Party‘s Silver Elephant Dinner. As Brad Warthen talked about, we did, “annex a salad.” But it wasn’t his — it was one from one of the open spaces. Still tasty. The dessert wasn’t bad, either. It was a custard creation in an edible bowl with fruit and whipped cream garnishing. Mmm.

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint were not in attendance, which certainly took away from the spectacle. It would have been great to see them in action. U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham seemed to do a good job, alternating, as we said in a tweet, between red meat and vegetables. Gov. Mark Sanford‘s speech was largely forgettable, as is typically the case. Lt. Gov. André Bauer, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and Rep. Nikki Haley gave their well-honed speeches, and didn’t deviate too far out from what was expected from them.

Former presidential adviser Karl Rove‘s speech was, well, too long. But that’s just us — we tend to zone out when being lectured to. However, it started out pretty well, and his recollections of former RNC chairman Lee Atwater were classic. Actually, his remembrances were the best part of the speech, along with his closing story about getting a gentleman of more than 60 years old an exemption to join the Marines and be a medical officer in Afghanistan.

Of course, those of us with an obsession for numbers were waiting for the straw poll results to come in. The announcement went pretty quick — we were unable to jot down all the numbers — but the end up of the gubernatorial poll was striking. Barrett took the poll with 37 percent, followed by McMaster with 34.2, Haley at 18.4 and Bauer rounding out the field with 10.4 percent. Considering that Bauer has a money lead of about half a million dollars more than Haley, getting beat this bad by the field may say a few things about the viability of his campaign (insert bromide about Bauer being counted out and bouncing back).

Also winning were Ken Ard for lieutenant governor, Alan Wilson for attorney general, Mick Zais for superintendent of education, Converse Chellis for state treasurer and Richard Eckstrom for comptroller general. Unless someone was quick with the pen, we’ll have to wait until the sun rises again to search for the exact numbers.

As for the straw poll, we’re of two minds on this. One is that the people voting are committed to the party and people like them are very much more likely to vote in the Republican primaries. The second is that there are a lot of people out there without the money, time or inclination to come to an event like the Silver Elephant Dinner, and they could have a very different outlook on these statewide races.

Regardless, it was a solid event and with the exception of the UStream feed going down and Warthen’s computer not wanting any part of the convention center’s wifi signal, it appeared to be a pretty successful evening for the state GOP.

The reports are in for the Republican hopefuls for governor, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett still leads with cash-on-hand. Another interesting bit is that Lt. Gov. André Bauer gave his campaign $70,000, then made a big deal about leading the fundraising battle. Eh, not so much. If you take out the cash he gave himself, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster beat out Barrett by more than $35,000 for first place in the first quarter.

And it’s very clear that Rep. Nikki Haley is more done than a burnt steak. She can’t raise the money needed, she doesn’t have the cash on hand to compete effectively, and the campaign has gone through more turnover than a carnival ride. According to Greg Hambrick of the Charleston City Paper, she’s having to go out-of-state to raise a quarter of her money. So, somebody better put a suicide watch on The Garnet Spy, because it’s all over but the shouting for the Haley campaign.

GRESHAM BARRETT
Contributions: $427,057.32
Expenditures: $369,278.74
Cash on hand: $1,566,221.58

Significant contributions
Bo Aughtry, $1,000, $1,500
Developer
Gingrey for Congress, $1,500
Campaign committee
Conservative Opportunity Leadership & Enterprise PAC, $1,500
PAC of U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
Hoosiers Supporting Buyer for Congress, $3,500
Campaign committee
Daniel Rickenmann, $1,000, $200
Columbia City Councilman
Freedom and Security PAC, $2,000
PAC of U.S. Rep. John Kline
Tim Murphy for Congress, $1,000
Campaign committee
Souder for Congress, $2,000
Campaign committee
Bill Lowndes, $500
Businessman
America’s Foundation, $3,500
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum’s group
Karen Iacovelli, $1,000
Businesswoman, activist

Significant expenditures
Under the Power Lines (Web services), $500, $3,000, $300, $10,169.73, $3,845
Gary Simrill (catering), $750
Ayres, McHenry & Associates (polling), $47,000
First Tuesday Strategies (consulting), $5,000×2
On the Mark (printing), $334.80, $1,009, $4,852.50
Political Marketing International (advertising), $2,683.20
TBG LLC (Web development), $2,750
Kevin Hall (event costs), $600
Creative Communications (advertising), $10,000
Bo Aughtry (event costs), $1,500
Starboard Communications (mail), $2,534.51, $387.94, $2,793.32, $33,632.04
David L. Andrukitis Inc. (postage), $1,064.90
The Gula Graham Group (consulting), $2,776
Emotive (Web services), $1,200

HENRY MCMASTER
Contributions: $464,799.37
Expenditures: $253,472.19
Cash on hand: $1,433,351.84

Significant contributions
Gene Reed, $2,000
Auto dealer
Andrew Safran, $750
Attorney
McMullen Public Affairs, $1,500
Lobbying firm
Ed Robinson Dry Cleaning, $200
Dry cleaning company
George Shissias, $100
Power broker
Karen Iacovelli, $3,500
Businesswoman, activist
Conquest Communications, $3,492.28
Consulting firm
Todd Avant, $1,000
Developer
Richard Quinn, $3,500
Consultant
Richard Quinn & Associates, $3,500
Consulting firm
Chris Sullivan, $150
Consultant
Jerry Kilgore, $500
Former Virginia attorney general
Arthur Ravenel, $250
Former U.S. representative
Dick Smith Ford, $3,500
Auto dealer
Rick Quinn, $3,500
Consultant
Bill Herbkersman, $500
State representative
McDaniels Acura, $250
Auto dealer
Mallory Factor, $1,000
Power broker
Strategic Media Placement, $3,500
Consulting firm
Strategy Group for Media, $3,500
Consulting firm
Recording Industry Association of America, $1,000
Industry association

Significant expenditures
Campaign Solutions (Web site), $10,697.73, 12,029.11, $12,706.70
Campaign Services (printing), $5,011, $1,505, $647.50
Conquest Communications (teletown hall), $3,492.28
Connell Donatelli (Web site), $2,425.67, $2,248.02
BMH Consulting (expenses, consulting), $1,467.53, $823.30, $3,800×3, $1,062.82, $1,086.78, $387.95, $861.63, $393.10
The Phillips Group (fundraising), $2,948, $12,920
Richard Quinn & Associates (expenses), $11,877.60, $6,278.32, $11,078.81
Gadsden & Greene (consulting), $3,000
FGP Consulting (consulting), $10,000

ANDRÉ BAUER
Contributions: $479,139
(including $70,000 in personal funds)
Expenditures: $130,080.50
Cash on hand: $1,398,639.65

Significant contributions
Saturn of North Charleston, $1,000
Auto dealer
Bernie’s Restaurant, $250
Restaurant
HuckPAC, $1,000
PAC of former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee
Stokes-Trainor Chevrolet-Pontiac-Cadillac-Buick, $800, $1,700
Auto dealer
Alianz Federal Holding Corporation, $1,000, $500
Insurance company
The Travelers Company PAC, $1,000, $500
Insurance company
Coca-Cola Bottling Company, $1,000, $2,500
Beverage company
Hal Wray, $1,000
Auto dealer
Anheuser-Busch, $2,500
Beer company
Fluor Enterprises, $3,500
Engineering company
Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund, $250
Auto company
General Electric Company PAC, $1,000
Come on, it’s GE. They do everything.
Johnson & Johnson, $1,000
Health care products company, among other things
NRA Political Victory Fund, $1,000
Gun rights group
Stivers Lincoln-Mercury, $500, $1,000
Auto dealer
Rod Shealy, $3,500
Consultant
Dona Ayers, $1,400
Consultant
Thomas Ravenel, $1,000×2
Former state treasurer
Pulliam Motor Group, $1,000
Auto dealer
Dick Smith Motors, $1,250
Auto dealer
Zorba’s, $1,675
Restaurant
SakiTumi, $1,500
Restaurant/bar
Progress Energy, $3,500
Energy company
Edward Sellers, $1,500
CEO, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of South Carolina
Toyota Scion of Easley, $1,000
Auto dealer
Blue Marlin Signature Catering, $2,500
Catering company
Blue Marlin Steaks & Seafood, $2,500
Restaurant
U.S. Helicopters, $3,500
Helicopter company
Gene Reed Enterprises, $3,000
Auto dealer
AllSouth Federal Credit Union, $200
Credit union
Time Warner Cable – S.C. PAC, $500
Cable company
SunTrust, $1,000
Bank
Benson Cadillac-Nissan, $500
Auto dealer
Saluda’s, $1,000
Restaurant
Kia of Anderson, $500
Auto dealer
Absolute Towing, $1,000
Towing company
Steven Mungo, $1,000
The Mungo Companies
Bank of America, $2,000
Bank
Khoury Oriental Rugs, $250
Rug dealer

Significant expenditures
SCPR Associates (consulting), $4,200, $2,114
ZMA (advertising), $4,506.38, $21,343.86, $6,154.85
S&S Strategies (consulting), $5,000×3
Communications Group (media), $645.30, $500
Black Label Strategies (consulting), $19,235.53
Advancing Strategies, $5,000

NIKKI HALEY
Contributions: $205,152.51
Expenditures: $81,281.15
Cash on hand: $530,022.54

Significant contributions
Susan Audé, $500, $100
Former reporter
Free & Strong America PAC, $3,500
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC
Wild Wing Café, $800
Restaurant
Nathan Ballentine, $38
State representative
Bank of America PAC, $2,000
Bank

Significant expenditures
Red Sea LLC (consulting), $746.40, $15,000