The two Democrats and one Republican vying to unseat Mark Sanford have miles to go to come close to matching the Republican governor’s campaign war chest.

Each of the announced Democratic candidates has raised about $200,000, while the Republican challenger trails even more:

• Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Aiken, had raised $208,792 through July and had just less than $200,000 in cash on hand.

• Florence Mayor Frank Willis had raised $209,400 and had $183,574 on hand over the same period.

• Oscar Lovelace, the Prosperity physician who said he would challenge Sanford in the GOP primary in June, had raised $21,690 through July. He has $21,580 in cash on hand.

Willis said his campaign exceeded its fund-raising expectations.

“It’s gone well for us,” said Willis, who is making his first bid for statewide office. “When you’re new at something like this, like I am, you’re not really sure how you’re doing, but we’re doing better than what I expected.”

Moore, who has run for Congress before but is making his first statewide bid, said he, too, was pleased with his totals.

Moore said he had limited opportunities to raise money until after the General Assembly adjourned in early June.

“I wanted to make sure on some key issues there would be no second-guessing from folks who would be willing to contribute,” Moore said.

Translation: Moore did not want there to be a perception of deal-making.

Mostly, he said, that concern centered on the Senate’s investigation into Santee Cooper. After Sanford threatened to sell the state-owned utility, the Senate adopted legislation that stripped Sanford of much of his control of it.

Moore was concerned that if he received a flow of cash from those who oppose Sanford’s dealings with Santee Cooper — such as the state’s electrical cooperatives — it would look inappropriate.

“I didn’t want anyone to have misgivings about it,” Moore said.

Moore has received strong support from the co-ops, which purchase much of their electricity from Santee Cooper. In the second quarter alone, Moore received almost $16,000 from individuals who listed a cooperative as their employer.

“That’s 27 years of being understanding and knowledgeable about Santee Cooper and the co-op process more importantly,” Moore said. “There are quite a number of people who believe in me and know I’ve been there.”

Much of Willis’ money came from fellow contractors and construction companies. Lovelace’s contributions came largely from fellow doctors.

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.