Republican presidential primary on the chopping block

South Carolina Republicans are shuffling to find a way to hold a 2012 Republican Primary even if Gov. Nikki Haley this week cuts the primary’s $680,000 in funding.

South Carolina’s first-in-the-South Republican primary has picked the eventual nominee every year since 1980. But if the state isn’t involved in the process, it must be held as a caucus, and political watchers say that could diminish the Palmetto State’s political prominence because swing voters don’t usually participate in caucuses.

"The South Carolina Republican Party is committed to having a spectacular and successful primary in early 2012,” said South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly in a written statement. “On multiple fronts, I am working with our legal team, the State Election Commission, legislators, and the Governor's Office to protect it.”

Read the full statement here.

South Carolina’s primary brings rush of attention, candidates and campaign spending to the state. In 2000, South Carolina voters selected George W. Bush over Sen. John McCain, a victory hailed as a turning point in the primary.

Because the state sets the rules and mandates the primary election, they should foot the bill, said one local GOP official.

"I'm historically someone who believes that government should stick with its core functions," said Berkeley County GOP Chairman Tim Callanan. "But running elections is one of your core functions."

There could be state requirements on the number of polling places and the use of electronic ballots. Callanan said those mandates should come up with financial support to defray the increased cost.

The Palmetto State's primaries are an economic boom for the state, he said, and it gives South Carolina a tremendous amount of influence and clout. "The party will come up with the money whether we have to pay for it ourselves or not."

Haley’s veto is expected by Wednesday, if not sooner. The governor is looking for big cuts in a range of areas from the state’s $6 billion budget.

"In a budget year as tough as this, we have to make tough choices that won't make everyone happy,” said Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey in a statement. “That means we need to focus on core functions of government, and the Presidential Primary – which was until recently always paid for by the parties, not the taxpayer – simply doesn’t fall into that category."

Connelly said state involvement is necessary, but didn’t eliminate the possibility that the primary could be funded by party donors. He has been careful not to criticize Haley, a Republican, for the possible funding cut.

Read more from The State newspaper.

“Every fiscal conservative bone in my body screams to protect taxpayers in this case, but some functions of state government deserve our utmost respect,” Connelly wrote.  “I will continue to fight for state involvement in the primary."

The Legislature can override Haley’s vetoes and the House could take up those issues when it reconvenes on Wednesday, said Greg Foster, spokesman for House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R-Charleston).

"We're working as hard as we can to maintain our first-in-the-South primary," Foster said.

There has been criticism of the state's open primary system, which allows anyone to vote, regardless of party affiliation. But the GOP isn't expected to go the caucus route, said Jeri Cabot, a political science professor at the College of Charleston.

"The gripe about open primaries fades when compared to raising the funds to conduct a primary or caucus," Cabot said.

Democrats, because President Barack Obama is running unopposed, plan no primary in the state.