Fundraising reality hits Grooms

Berkeley-Charleston Sen. Larry Grooms may have been the first, but odds are he won't be the last of the gubernatorial contenders to step aside before the June primaries.

Shortly after the first statewide televised debate last fall that featured all 10 announced candidates -- five Republicans and five Democrats -- analysts were predicting that by the beginning of the new year financial reality would begin to narrow the field. Republican Grooms was the first to prove them right.

The senator clearly was aware when he officially began his campaign last August that two high-profile, statewide officials already had war chests and had long been considered almost certain contenders for the job when Gov. Mark Sanford's second and final term expired. Attorney Gen. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer also had been joined by another high profile contender -- 3rd District Congressman Gresham Barrett.

According to Grooms, the other Republican candidates already had a cumulative total of some $3.5 million in the bank. Still, he thought he had a chance of raising the more than $1 million needed to get his message to primary voters. But that was before he got a first-hand lesson in the difficulties of statewide campaign financing.

Astonishing as it may seem, according to Grooms only about 20,000 of the state's 4 million citizens have ever contributed to a political campaign. Further, only about 5,000 have ever given more than $1,000. An even smaller number have given the $3,500 maximum which, the senator notes, translates into a much smaller number of people controlling the lion's share of the political money in the state. Further, many give at the request of friends which means that only a relative few are calling the fundraising shots.

The senator notes that he also was heavily involved during the early months of his campaign with four major economic projects that took time, including the landing of the new Boeing facility. But he also still found time to crisscross the state with his conservative message and he says the reception he got was both enlightening and heartwarming.

Still, he concluded that no matter how perfect a grass-roots campaign might be, it still would be relatively secret without funds for the necessary media buys. With only about $150,000 committed and the prospect of raising no more than $400,000 before the primary, he decided to bow out in advance of the demands of a new legislative session.

His timing also virtually coincided with 1st District Congressman Henry Brown's decision not to seek re-election, resulting in a flurry of speculation that Grooms' decision was tied to Brown's. No question, the prospect of districtwide rather than a statewide race is appealing to Grooms, whose highest poll numbers were along the coast. But moving to Washington has far more hurdles in terms of family life than relocating to the governor's mansion. Grooms notes that his youngest child is only 10 and, for the moment, at least, his wife's objections have put a congressional race off the table.

Is that decision irrevocable? It may depend on whether several other prospects decide to run. He did say, "I never close the door on anything."

Meanwhile, Grooms still talks excitedly about the grass-roots "tea party" movement he experienced around the state, citing, for example, a crowd of 350 that came out on a Saturday morning in Lancaster County in 12 degree weather.

He believes that movement is being underestimated by many politicians and has the potential to change the face of his party. Grooms says he wants to be a part of that change.

Meanwhile, don't be surprised if one of the five Democratic gubernatorial contenders is the next to face the tough reality of statewide fundraising.

Barbara S. Williams, editor emeritus of The Post and Courier, may be reached at bwilliams@postandcourier.com.