Politics & Government

SC1: The Candidates and the Cash

Millions of dollars have been raised and candidates have been generous in giving themselves loans.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated since its original publication.

One of the biggest factors in an election--if not the biggest--is money. Raising money is almost essential in order to stay competitive. The First Congressional District race is no different.

Through the end of February, the Republican and Democratic candidates had raised over $1.5 million. That total does not include money from PACs created on a candidate's behalf (See breakdown below).

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Both Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch led the way with over $300,000 in donations. Teddy Turner also eclipsed $300,000, but that was because he contributed more than $200,000 himself.

Expenses for the candidates exceeded $2 million.

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The candidates have loaned themselves more than $1.3 million, with John Kuhn's $500,000 the most. 

Candidates can fund their campaign through a loan or with a direct contribution. In the FEC database the candidate's direct money appears as a "candidate contribution."

Candidates are also required to make Personal Financial Disclosure (PFD), but less than half of them did. Those that did not could be facing a fine. The available PFDs are attached to this article.

A few interesting facts gleaned from the PFDs:

  • Mark Sanford was paid $130,000 by Fox News in 2012.
  • John Kuhn has a Swiss bank account.
  • Teddy Turner made less than $20,000 as a teacher at the Charleston Collegiate School.
  • Tim Larkin and Peter McCoy's PFDs might be the most straightforward--they were paid a salary for working as an engineer and attorney, respectively.
  • Jonathan Hoffman worked on the Mitt Romney for President campaign.

Fundraising, Expenses and Loans

Democrats

 

Elizabeth Colbert Busch

Raised: $309,559

Spent: $109,929

Loans: $9,000

 

Ben Frasier

No information available.

 

Republicans

 

Keith Blandford

No information available.

 

Curtis Bostic

Raised: $87,272

Spent: $130,248

Loans: $100,000 

 

Ric Bryant

Raised $125

Spent: $5,397

Loans: $5,340

 

Larry Grooms

Raised: $223,815

Spent: $115,322

Loans: $100,000

 

Jonathan Hoffman

Raised: $55,009

Spent: $28,951

 

Jeff King

Raised: $4,576

Spent: $4,538

 

John Kuhn

Raised: $50,103

Spent: $418,807

Loans: $500,000

 

Tim Larkin

Raised: $8,475

Spent: $12,023

Loans: $2,900 (per candidate)

 

Chip Limehouse

Raised: $140,115

Spent: $497,457

Loans: $400,000

 

Peter McCoy

Raised: $60,363

Spent: $17,865

Loans: $0

 

Elizabeth Moffly

Raised: $2,155

Spent: $197,153

Loans: $205,000

 

Ray Nash

Raised: $18,387

Spent: $14,119

Loans: $2,900

 

Andy Patrick

Raised: $61,612

Spent: $27,239

Loans: $0

 

Shawn Pinkston

Raised: $17,450

Spent: $12,297

Loans: $0

 

Mark Sanford

Raised: $334,397

Spent: $90,342

Loans: $0

 

Teddy Turner

Raised: $376,433

Spent: $345,257

Loans: $0

 

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