South Carolina attorney general Alan Wilson raised a substantially less-than-robust $33,000 in his bid for reelection during the recently concluded third quarter of 2017. Meanwhile, the “Republican” incumbent spent $39,000 during the quarter, according to campaign finance documents posted this week with the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC).
That’s not a good showing at all … although Wilson managed to keep his cash on hand for the upcoming election above $1 million.
Interestingly, Wilson’s expenditures included multiple payments to Rebecca Mustian, the daughter of his former political advisor, embattled “Republican” strategist Richard Quinn.
Mustian received $7,500 during the quarter from Wilson’s campaign – expenses earmarked for “bookkeeping services.”
Wilson also paid $1,500 to Jon Parker, a South Carolina political consultant with close ties to “the Quinndom.”
Quinn’s firm is at the heart of #ProbeGate – an ongoing, multi-jurisdictional criminal investigation into corruption in state government. In fact Wilson’s high-profile meddling with this investigation has served to blunt his once-promising political trajectory – although at this point neither he nor Quinn have been charged with any wrongdoing.
As for Wilson’s cooling momentum on the fundraising front? Sources close to the second-term incumbent tell us he has been focused in recent months on the ongoing #NukeGate scandal and has not had time to devote to fundraising. They also tell us his network is “ready to engage” and raise him “another $1-2 million” in campaign funds in the event he draws a credible challenger.
Will that happen? We don’t know … frankly, we’re surprised it hasn’t happened already.
We continue to hear rumblings regarding potential GOP rivals stepping forward to challenge the scandal-scarred elected official, but as of this writing none have filed … and the clock is ticking.
Stay tuned … if we hear of a challenger emerging, we’ll be sure to let our readers know …
As for #ProbeGate, things have been eerily quiet for the last six weeks. There’s been virtually no news since the revelation on September 1 that a top target of the investigation – former S.C. House majority leader Jimmy Merrill – had reached an agreement to cooperate with investigators.
According to prosecutors, Merrill has been cooperating with them for the past six months.
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own guest column or letter to the editor via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we’re doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Banner via SCAG