Thursday, the ad-hoc impeachment committee went over the allegations provided by the State Ethics Commission. There was a lot of back-and-forth between the legislators and Gov. Mark Sanford’s high-priced attorneys. Then it came. The big move. The committee dismissed 28 of the charges.

Yep, there were 37 counts of wrong-doing, and now only nine survive.

But the House impeachment panel took just 31 minutes Thursday to decide 28 of those charges did not meet the “serious” crimes or misconduct standard the state Constitution requires for impeachment.

The committee said Tuesday it likely would ignore half of nine other ethics charges relating to Sanford’s use of state-owned aircraft for personal or political travel.

Lawmakers still could impeach Sanford for serious misconduct because he left the state without informing other officials where he was and misled his staff.

Sanford also still faces the possibility of up to $74,000 in fines from those 37 charges when an S.C. State Ethics Commission panel debates his case in January.

Really, this is simply more good news for Democrats. The longer the GOP is saddled with dealing with the Sanford mess, the worse for the party.

Federal spending and contribution numbers came out several days ago for the March filing for our state’s two major parties. State reports are due on April 10. In the wake of health concerns for Columbia attorney and Republican activist Kevin Hall, and the impact of that on the S.C. Republican Party chairman’s race, here are where the parties stand as of the last disclosure, and relevant contributions and expenditures.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Summary
Cash on hand, beginning: $43,517.15
Contributions: $55,851.44
Expenditures: $59,017.51
Cash on hand, end: $40,351.08

Schedule B contributions
2009.02.09 | New Hampshire Democratic Party, $23,849 (joint fundraising expenses)

Schedule H4 disbursements
2009.02.02 | Enterprise Rent A Car, $540.24

SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
Summary
Cash on hand, beginning: $124,948.12
Contributions: $48,859.24
Disbursements: $64,699.05
Cash on hand, end: $109,108.31
Debt: $102,449

Schedule B disbursements
2009.02.05 | Richard Quinn & Associates, $4,000 (research)
2009.02.20 | Diamond Graphics, $903.76 (FEA printing/Lindsey Graham sticker)
2009.02.20 | Starboard Communications, $20,000 (FEA slate mailings)

Schedule B contributions
2009.02.19 | Ken Bailey (attorney, Houston, TX), $10,000

Schedule H4 disbursements
2009.02.04 | Mail Marketing Strategies, $150 (copies)
2009.02.09 | Charlotte Airport, $82 (parking)
2009.02.12 | Five Guys (Reagan National Airport), $31.14 (food and beverage)
2009.02.13 | Bob Andrews Motor, $1,697.20 (auto repair)

Schedule D (debts)
Starboard Communications, $84,217.31 (FEA slate mailings)
Alltel, $18,231.69 (FEA telephone)

In what amounts to the next bombshell move in the race for S.C. Republican Party chairman, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint is personally calling up party activists on behalf of SCGOP chairman candidate Kevin Hall.

According to a source close to Wolfe Reports, DeMint just started whipping votes for Hall recently, following up on the endorsement letter he and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham sent out in the second week of February.

“It’s not unusual for an elected official to endorse another candidate,” the source said. “But for a U.S. senator to put in the time to personally call activists urging them to support Kevin Hall for state party chair, well, that’s a big deal and it illustrates how badly DeMint wants Hall running the party during his 2010 reelection campaign.”

Other currently announced candidates are former Superintendent of Education candidate Karen Floyd and Spartanburg County Republican Party chairman Rick Beltram.

According to a widely-circulated letter that was leaked today, U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham have endorsed Columbia attorney Kevin Hall for chairman of the S.C. Republican Party. The move is a bombshell of sorts in the race, coming at the same time RNC committeeman Glenn McCall announced that he had no intention of running for the post.

“Throughout all of his service, he never made a dime from the campaigns he’s helped,” the letter read. “He does it because he is a true believer in our party and in the conservative cause. He does it because he understands that if we’re going to reclaim our credibility as Republicans, we must recruit and support candidates who will be true to our ideals and principles.

“Kevin’s philosophy of volunteerism is exactly what built our Party’s grassroots organization. Who better to recruit and organize new volunteers for our party than someone who has volunteered so much of his own time and talent.”

The endorsements put the momentum firmly behind Hall, who is up against Spartanburg County GOP chairman Rick Beltram. Though McCall has taken himself out of the running, others may still jump in. According to SCHotline, Karen Floyd is seriously considering a run and could make her decision within days.

Sunday night, Jeffrey Sewell started up a Facebook group to back Floyd, “Karen K. Floyd,” to draft the former Superintendent of Education nominee to lead the party.

As of Monday afternoon, however, the group seemed to have disappeared from the social networking site.

A new chairman will be chosen at the party meeting in May.