GOP Candidates Raised More Than $2K in Irmo, Chapin

Five residents in Irmo and Chapin have donated a total of $2,250 to GOP candidates since January, according to Federal Elections Commission figures released this week.

Donations went to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, businessman Herman Cain and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Cain raised $1,250 from residents in both Irmo and Chapin. Perry received two donations from Irmo and Chapin residents totaling $750, while Bachmann received one donation from Chapin totaling $250.

Perry, who wasn’t even a candidate for the GOP nomination until mid-August, has surged to the front of South Carolina fundraising thanks to some fast and large donations.

Perry, whose Palmetto State poll numbers have soured after a hot start, has raised $103,650 from S.C. contributors in six weeks. Perry’s 81 donations, primarily from Upstate residents, averaged $1,280.

Following Perry in fundraising is former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has raised $80,080 among S.C. donors; former Gov. Mitt Romney, who has raised $75,230 ($54,000 of it coming in the third quarter) and Rep. Ron Paul, who has raised $54,999 since the campaign began.

Businessman Herman Cain, who leads the latest S.C. GOP poll among primary voters, has raised $23,484. Rep. Michele Bachmann, who spent a great deal of time in South Carolina over the summer, has yet to make a serious funding impact, raising $23,197. Meanwhile, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has raised $16,460.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised $2,800 before dropping out of the race. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, whose campaign appears to be in financial distress following this recent round of financial disclosures, has raised $2,550. And former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has raised $451.

So far, no Irmo or Chapin residents have donated to Santorum, Romney, Paul, Pawlenty, Huntsman or Johnson.

South Carolina, which will hold its first in the South primary on Jan. 21, isn’t just opening its pocketbook for Republican candidates, however.

While the GOP presidential candidates have raised $382,902 in this election cycle, incumbent President Barack Obama, who is visiting North Carolina and Virginia this week, has raised $238,291 among S.C. voters, according to the FEC.