Campaigns Skimping on Spending in Palmetton State

So far in the 2012 election season, that has been more of a trickle.

The Palmetto State trails woefully behind other early primary states in candidate spending, bringing in just $721,000 in advertising, hotels, meals, travel, staff spending and other travel expenses so far, according to Federal Elections Commission figures released this week. The FEC also released national fundraising totals for each candidate.

Iowa, where the caucus is typically the first of the Republican election battles, has brought in $2.6 million already. New Hampshire, the first in the North primary, has brought in $4.6 million. Wisconsin, the site of hotly contested races in recent months and another early primary state, has brought in $7.3 million.

Florida’s attempt to steal some of South Carolina’s thunder, meanwhile, has apparently worked. Organizers have scheduled Florida’s primary for Jan. 31, deeply uprooting the traditional GOP schedule. South Carolina was forced to move its primary from March to Jan. 21 to stay in front.

But candidates are spending their time and money in Florida, which has already brought in $2.1 million in spending. Another Southern state that has become a bellwether for the nation, Virginia, has brought in $8.8 million in spending already – not a surprise given its proximity to Washington, D.C.

Even though the primary calendars are being set, there is still some drama with the South Carolina GOP. Several S.C. counties this week filed suit to stop the state from holding the primary in January and forcing the counties to pay a portion of the bill.

Here's a look at what the candidates were espending their money on in Charleston from May through September.

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $568.34 23-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $476.93 23-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $358.73 14-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON
$338.90 19-Sep-11 TRAVEL NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $32.14 23-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON
$11.78 19-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $439.43 17-May-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON
$201.53 1-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE NATIONAL CAR RENTAL CHARLESTON $892.10 9-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE BARKSDALE HOUSE INN $439.25 15-Aug-11 HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS PENINSULA GRILL
$111.43 17-May-11 FOOD/BEVERAGE EXPENSE PLANTERS INN $2256.71 17-May-11 FUNDRAISING EVENT EXPENSE HOLIDAY INN CHARLESTON $1127.71 20-Sep-11 TRAVEL KICKIN CHICKEN $15.87 20-Sep-11 FOOD/BEVERAGE MARRIOTT $85.68 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING MARRIOTT $140.36 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING MARRIOTT $84.56 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING MARRIOTT $84.56 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING MARRIOTT $84.56 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING MARRIOTT $84.56 4-Aug-11 TRAVEL: LODGING NELSON PRINTING $1304.77 24-Jun-11 PRINTING EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $204.26 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $612.82 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $573.12 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $192.91 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $192.91 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $612.82
10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON $204.26 10-Aug-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE FRANCIS MARION HOTEL
$3224.78 26-Aug-11 FACILITY RENTAL SUNFIRE GRILL AND BISTRO $35.84 9-Aug-11 FOOD/BEVERAGE EXPENSE EVENTS BY THE SOCIAL SECRETARY $3800.00 21-Sep-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING EVENTS BY THE SOCIAL SECRETARY $4750.00 2-Sep-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING EVENTS BY THE SOCIAL SECRETARY $4750.00 24-Aug-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING EVENTS BY THE SOCIAL SECRETARY $12900.00 15-Jul-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FRAWLEY, ANNE MARIE
$1457.49 2-Sep-11 TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT EVENTS BY THE SOCIAL SECRETARY $12100.00 28-Jul-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SNEATH, NEIL $100.00 12-Sep-11 EVENT SECURITY CHARLESTON SNAPPED PHOTOGRAPHY $250.00 21-Sep-11 PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES ENTERPRISE SC AIRPORT $134.47 15-Aug-11 TRAVEL-RENT CAR SUNOCO #2671 $20.94 15-Aug-11 TRAVEL-GAS HUNTER, JACK W MR. $2500.00 31-Aug-11 CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY HUNTER, JACK W MR. $2500.00 15-Sep-11
CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY HUNTER, JACK W MR.
$2500.00 30-Sep-11 CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY HUNTER, JACK W MR. $2500.00 29-Jul-11 CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY HUNTER, JACK W MR. $2500.00 15-Aug-11 CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE $419.80 28-Jun-11 FOOD & BEVERAGE CHARLESTON BATTERY, LLC $1262.00 19-Aug-11 CATERING MERRILL, JIM $1500.00 15-Jul-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING MERRILL, JIM $1500.00 28-Jul-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING MERRILL, JIM $1500.00 16-Jun-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING MERRILL, JIM $1500.00 30-Jun-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SMITH, MICHAEL S. MR. II $2500.00 4-Sep-11 IN KIND: EQUIPMENT AND LABOR MASON, TAYLOR $247.07 22-Jun-11 MILEAGE REIMBURSMENT MASON, TAYLOR $1500.00 22-Jun-11 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING MASON, BENJAMIN T.
$4500.00 6-Jul-11 GRASSROOTS CONSULTING MASON, BENJAMIN T.
$316.62 6-Jul-11 TRAVEL MASON, BENJAMIN T. $874.16 31-Jul-11 MILEAGE MASON, BENJAMIN T. $1992.47 25-Aug-11 MILEAGE MASON, BENJAMIN T. $3000.00 3-Aug-11 GRASSROOTS COORDINATING MASON, BENJAMIN T. $3000.00 1-Sep-11 GRASSROOTS COORDINATING