House race one of the costliest in S.C. history

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON - The 5th District Congressional race between Democratic Rep. John Spratt and Republican Ralph Norman is one of the most expensive House races ever waged in South Carolina.

The two candidates combined spent just under $2.2 million by the end of September, according to Federal Election Commission spending reports. And the candidates had $1.3 million in cash combined heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

"An open seat on the average nationally would cost about $1 million. What has happened this year is there is a lot of money being spent on targeted seats by both Republicans and Democrats," said Bill Moore, a political scientist at the College of Charleston.

"At one time, the Republican Party saw Spratt as being vulnerable and they were pumping a lot of money into that race," he said.

Six years ago, a crowded field of candidates spent almost $2.4 million in vying for the open 1st District Congressional seat vacated by now-Gov. Mark Sanford. Henry Brown emerged from a crowded GOP primary to win the Republican nomination and the seat.

A year later, nine candidates spent a combined $2 million seeking the 2nd District seat left vacant by the death of longtime Rep. Floyd Spence. Joe Wilson, a Republican, won the seat.

A similar amount was spent in 2002 by candidates in the 3rd District seeking the seat vacated by Lindsey Graham, who ran for the Senate. Republican Gresham Barrett won that House seat.

Federal Election Commission records show the most costly race Spratt has been involved in before this year was six years ago when he and Republican challenger Mike Burkhold spent a combined $1.5 million.

The 5th District, on the northern edge of the state, is perhaps the most expensive district in South Carolina to run in, campaign officials say. Candidates make media buys in four markets - Columbia, Charlotte, Greenville-Spartanburg and Florence.

Moore said that control of the House will be decided next month.

"At one time there were 48 seats seen as being competitive. But the number was up to about 60 after the [ex-Rep. Mark] Foley scandal," he said, adding that parties are moving money in and out of various races almost daily.

"It's like putting out a brush fire. You put one out and another starts somewhere else," he said. "Both parties end up switching money from once race to another."

While the cost of campaigns continues to increase in South Carolina, they seem modest compared to elsewhere. According to http://www.opensecrets.org/, which tracks campaign financing, the most expensive House race in the nation in 2004 year was in District 32 in Texas.

Republican Pete Sessions won that race in which the candidates spent a combined $9.2 million.

Bill Moore | Political scientist at the College of Charleston.