The second quarter campaign finance report is now available for SC candidates running for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Education and U.S. Senate. Current State House Chairmen and their opponents are also listed.

The data is cumulative totals through June 30, 2010 and was gathered from the State Ethics Commission's reporting site at SC.GOV. The next quarterly report is due October 10, 2010.

Click here to view the 2nd quarter report.

This week we got a look at the gubernatorial campaigns finances, just in time to enter the home stretch to the June Primaries. Here’s our take on what the reporting revealed:

First, it does not take much of a leap to suggest that Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) will be the Democratic nominee. His closest competition had been expected to be Jim Rex, the current Superintendent of Education, whose campaign has not seemed to have materialized and who reported abysmal fundraising numbers. It is not likely he will have the cash to get on television, which, in a statewide race, is lethal. Sen. Sheheen, however, reported just over $800,000 on hand.  Sheheen has run a smart, steady race for the Democratic nomination while others have come and gone. While not seen as the most charismatic figure, he has long been considered the Democratic Party’s best hope for victory in the fall. Sheheen would be wise to spend frugally in the primary, and can only hope that the GOP candidates chew each other up on the airwaves, as many expect them to do.

As for the GOP Primary – Barrett shows a roughly $200,000 lead over McMaster and Bauer, with Haley trailing all three considerably. Barrett showed $1,566,221.00, McMaster showed $1,438,351.00 and Bauer showed $1,398,689.00 while Haley reported $530,022.00. So, what does this mean?  First, it would be nice to own a television station in SC right about now. McMaster and Bauer are the most well known, so both must get beyond their core support. They have to find a way to appeal to people who already know them, but are not supportng their candidacy (think Beasley's US Senate bid in 2004). It is unlikely that Haley will be the nominee or make a run off though not impossible. Still, her funds, matched with another round of third party attacks could take a toll on Barrett.  The top three names are basically in a dead heat now, with the most recent movement coming from Barrett, who was the least known. We do agree that Barrett still has some opportunity to expand his support with GOP Primary voters, but we think he is walking a fine line. Yes, we know, it is a GOP Primary. Yes, perhaps you can’t ever get too far to the Right here. But voters in Greenville and voters in HHI are not the same, and they all get to vote on the same day. As for McMaster, he is probably the one candidate we have always seen making it into the run-off, but he is going to have to expand his support if he goes beyond that. Of course, history tells us to never count Bauer out; he apparently has the ability to raise or personally contribute whatever he needs to stay in the game. As for who would be the strongest nominee in the fall though, too early to tell – this primary will provide a good answer to that.

2010 1st Quarter Campaign Finance Report

GREENVILLE, SC - The Felkel Group posted a report today showing fourth quarter campaign contributions and expenditures of SC candidates running for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and current State Senate and House Chairmen.  The information listed is cumulative totals through December 31, 2009.  This data was gathered from the State Ethics Commission's reporting site at SCGOV.org. The next quarterly report is due April 10, 2010.

The so-called “super conglomerate” swooped into town Monday to provide a big helping hand for local families in need.

Jim Torgerson, regional market manager for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., presented a check for $40,000 to Room at the Inn of the Lowcountry. The grant will support the organization’s efforts to provide shelter and quality maternity service to the community’s homeless pregnant women and their children.

“Wal-Mart is focused on supporting organizations that are making a direct impact on the lives of individuals in our communities,” Torgerson said.

Room at the Inn of the Lowcountry is clearly changing the lives of these young women and theirchildrenbyprovidinghope for better lives and answering their basic needs.” Room at the Inn of the Lowcountry is licensed by the S.C. Department of Social Services to serve 13 adolescents (males, birth to 6 years of age; and females, birth to 21 years of age). At any given time, it cares for up to six mothers and their children at the McGivney Maternity Home in Bluffton. Annually this equates to between 35 and 40 clients served by RATI.

The Felkel Group posted a report today showing third quarter campaign contributions and expenditures of SC candidates running for Governor and current State Senate and House Chairmen. The information listed is cumulative totals through September 30, 2009.  This data was gathered from the State Ethics Commission's reporting site at SCGOV.org. The next quarterly report is due January 10, 2010.

South Carolina’s clean energy jobs grew 36% between 1998 and 2007, 16 times faster than the overall job market. Mike Cale, CEO of Utility Partners of America, calls these “green collar” jobs. With slightly morethan 315 jobs, Cale expects UPA to employ upward of 1,000 workers in the near future.

GSA Business: How has the company grown since 1997, and how have you managed that growth?

Mike Cale: The founder of the company, Todd Stone, is my partner. Todd and I met in 2006 quite by accident. I invested heavily into the company, and I think the first year we doubled sales and the second year we tripled sales. Our growth is largely managed because we’re in a business where device manufacturers make electric meters, gas meters and water meters. Those things wear out and they have to be replaced, and you also add new technology into the equation.

GSA: You’ve done work in not just South Carolina, what’s the competition like for what you do?

Cale: Our company has done business in 42 states thus far. There is a bit of barrier to entry. That’s a good thing or us and perhaps not for everybody else. There are a few small companies here and there who handle business locally but do not have a national footprint. I think we are positioned as a strong No. 3, perhaps No. 2, nationally. Honeywell (International Inc.), for example, has a deployment business among other things.

The Lowcountry Food Bank accepted a $50,000 donation Thursday from Wal-Mart at the Paul Hulsey Community Food and Nutrition Center in North Charleston. Founded in 1983, the Lowcountry Food Bank aims to provide nutritious food from local farms and groceries to low-income families.

The funds will be used to expand the bank's Growing Food Locally program. Started in 2005, the program works to increase availability of fresh produce to emergency food providers in the Lowcountry. The check also will help the bank reach its goal of raising $3 million in donations.

Jermaine Husser, the bank's executive director, was thankful for Wal-Mart's contribution. "Wal-Mart understands the bad economy right now, and that many nonprofit organizations are really struggling. I am grateful for their commitment to us and corporate citizenship services," she said.

Wal-Mart has donated to the food bank in the past, but Thursday's was its largest contribution yet.

South Carolina State University's environmental program received a $150,000 donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation on Monday to expand the program and add more research opportunities for the students.

The Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station program, established in 1996, is a course-driven internship involving time in and out of the classroom to learn and apply theories in field experiments.

"We are the only field station in the country devoted to the education of environmental science for predominantly minority students," program director Denise Grant said.

Grant said the money she requested will be used during the next fiscal year to expand the courses that are taught. The donation also will be used to give the students a research experience.

Cedric Shamley, a fourth-year biology student, said he enjoys the hands-on aspect of the program and that he plans to continue studying environmental issues in graduate school.

"I feel like it's a blessing, and I feel like it will help to better the program" Shamley said of the donation.

Chris Neeley, chairman of the Wal-Mart Foundation State Giving Program, said it was an easy decision for the committee to give the money to the program.

The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $10,000 to the conservation advocacy group Upstate Forever to be used to continue and expand a Land Trust Outreach Campaign through 2009.

Rob Green, regional market manager for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said the foundation seeks opportunities to support organizations that make a direct impact on the communities Wal-Mart serves.

Green, pictured far right, presented a check to, from left, Dana Leavitt, land trust director for Upstate Forever; Lisa Wickliffe, land conservation manager for Upstate Forever; and Brad Wyche, executive director for Upstate Forever.

“We are eager to support Upstate Forever’s efforts to reach out and educate landowners in the Upstate on ways in which we can preserve vital acreage,” Green said.

Wyche said protecting sensitive lands and streams from development ultimately will make the region a more desirable place to live and boost the economy by improving the quality of life. “We are not opposed to development,” Wyche said. “It really isn’t a question of whether we will develop, but how we develop.”

Shell Suber, former political director for Senator Lindsey Graham's successful 2008 reelection campaign has joined the Greenville, SC based firm The Felkel Group as Vice President for Public Affairs and Business Development. Suber, who will be located in Columbia, SC, will oversee key advocacy and public sector business development accounts on a statewide basis as the firm continues to expand. Suber brings an understanding of the business world gained during years spent in the banking and insurance industries. Combined with his experience as a staff member for Senator Thurmond, a lobbyist and a longtime GOP activist and highly regarded political operative, Suber brings extensive contacts and experience to the firm’s clients.

Suber has volunteered his service to numerous community organizations including the Columbia Citadel Club (President, 2005), The Citadel Alumni Association (District Director, 2007), The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce (Intergovernmental Relations Committee, 2004-2005) The Columbia Museum of Art Contemporaries Society (Vice President, 2000). Suber is a Columbia, SC native and 1989 graduate of The Citadel. He and his wife Jennifer have two children, Abby and Walt.

The Wal-Mart Foundation presented a $15,000 check Tuesday to HopeHealth to assist the organization in its community outreach efforts.

Carl Humphries, CEO of HopeHealth, said the money will be a great help to the clinic which sees many people in throughout the Pee Dee.

“We committed to expanding our health center and, through the funds that are coming to us through Wal-Mart, we want to reach out to folks in the community who need primary health care,” he said.

The gift will allow HopeHealth to continue to make progress informing the Pee Dee about its community health aspect and the pharmacy inside the new HopeHealth building on East Palmetto Street, Humphries said.

Aimee Matthews has joined the expanding staff of The Felkel Group and was recently hired to serve as a Senior Executive Assistant and assist with the firm's marketing efforts.

Matthews brings more than 10 years of experience in office administration and has supported management leaders from organizations such as the YMCA of Greenville and General Wholesale Distributors. Her expertise carries into the specialized fields of event planning, meeting logistics and public relations. Additionally, she will assist in the coordination of the firm’s marketing efforts.

A native of Greenville, SC, Aimee earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art and Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

(Greenville) The Felkel Group, a nationally recognized public affairs and business development firm, headquartered in the Upstate, is celebrating its Tenth Anniversary while expanding its staff and service offerings, all while enjoying record revenues.

“This is an exciting time for our firm,” said CEO/Founder Hollis (Chip) Felkel. “We did this the hard way, by launching in a business focused location rather than Columbia or Washington DC, but ultimately, I think it helped us develop a stronger reputation as a trusted partner who understands both the political and the business communities’ perspective on issues. Our clients and competitors see us as very effective connectors, messengers and problem-solvers for a wide range of clients dealing with a variety of issues in a sometimes volatile environment at the local, state and national level.”

Kristin Elliott has joined The Felkel Group, Inc. as the firm’s IT Director. Elliott, who specializes in technical development including data integration, systematic automation, process improvement and website design, will have primary responsibility for continued maintenance and development of the firm’s proprietary software solution for public affairs, the RAP Index™. The software is used by proactive organizations, corporations and associations around the country to gauge their stakeholders’ abilities, capabilities and opportunities to effectively engage in the public policy arena. Elliott will also handle web design for the firm’s clients.

Prior to joining TFG, Elliott worked as a Statistical Analyst for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina where she satisfied everything from executive to production level development needs. A native of Greer, Elliott graduated from the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, with a degree in Management Science emphasis in Business Information Systems.

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial nominee Vincent Sheheen is trying to fight the battle against Republican nominee Nikki Haley on her own turf, attempting to wrest away Haley's signature campaign issue.

Haley, a state representative from Lexington, has made open government -- including transparency by public officials -- her central primary campaign plank.

But Sheheen's release, two weeks ago, of 10 years of his tax records and, last week, of his legislative e-mails, this week has left Haley playing catch-up.

For its part, Haley's campaign has argued that Sheheen, a state senator from Camden, is ducking questions about whether the Democrat supports the recently approved national health insurance law and the Obama administration's lawsuit challenging Arizona's immigration law, two issues Sheheen could have to deal with if elected governor.

Observers said Haley is still a favorite to win in November in the conservative-leaning state. But, they add, Sheheen might be planting doubts that Haley's actions match her rhetoric.

"She's playing total defense on this," Clemson University political scientist Dave Woodard said. "Every move is made by Sheheen and she's responding."

During the GOP primary, Haley proposed lawmakers disclose their income. Later, when challenged by Republican opponent Gresham Barrett to release her income tax records, Haley acknowledged an engineering firm paid her $42,500 in consulting fees while she was a legislator -- in 2007-2009. Haley said she realized the need for legislators to disclose their income between finishing her work for the firm in 2008 and filing a bill to require financial disclosure by legislators at the end of 2009.

South Carolina on Tuesday will determine whether 2010 continues to be the year of the angry voter.

Election Day caps months-long campaigns that, except for a congressional race, have been fairly tame until the past few weeks.

Despite a three-man race for governor on the Democratic side — that's S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Sens. Vincent Sheheen and Robert Ford — Republican candidates dominate the down-ticket races in much of the Upstate, with Union County being an exception.

State Rep. Nikki Haley, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Attorney General Henry McMaster are seeking the GOP nod for governor. And incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of Travelers Rest is trying to fend off four challengers in the 4th Congressional District.

GREENVILLE, S.C. --

Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley has denied having an inappropriate relationship with a South Carolina political blogger.

"I have been 100 percent faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage," Haley said in a statement Monday. "This claim against me is categorically and totally false," she went on."

The denial comes after former spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford and current political blogger, Will Folks, made an admission Monday on his political blog that he had an “inappropriate physical relationship" with Haley.

Folks authors a political blog called Fitsnews.com.

State Rep. Nikki Haley on Tuesday kept up an attack on U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, one of her rivals in the Republican primary for governor, criticizing the congressman for supporting what she called a tax on imports.

Later in the day, Barrett said he no longer supports the Border Tax Equity Act.

In a statement joined by two other Republican congressmen who had supported the bill, Barrett said the legislation had appeared to be a way of protecting U.S. jobs by giving manufacturers rebates to offset the “discriminatory effects” of “border taxes.”