Campaign finance reports filed Monday with the State Ethics Commission show Sanford's campaign generated $642,987 between March and June. The campaign spent just over $80,000 and had a total of $3.4 million on hand.

Voters will decide in a June 2006 primary whether Sanford is the Republican Party's nominee for governor. So far, his only primary opposition is Oscar Lovelace, a physician from Lexington County.

Lovelace's first campaign finance report shows he raised $20,940, about 3 percent of what Sanford gathered. That "doesn't include my rural doctor wealth," Lovelace joked. Sanford has "got all the money and I've got all the votes," he said.

There's also a primary on the Democratic side, with Clearwater Sen. Tommy Moore and Florence Mayor Frank Willis. Their initial campaign finance reports show that they can raise cash to mount a viable campaign, but they're both millions behind Sanford.

Moore raised $208,792 and had a slight lead on Willis, who picked up $192,900 in the quarter in addition to the $16,500 he started with.

"Money talks, and it is going to be an awfully hard row to hoe" for Sanford's challengers, Francis Marion University political science professor Neal Thigpen said. "They've got an awful lot of phone calls and fund raising to do."

Incumbents usually have the advantage of prestige and contacts from a successful campaign that makes it easier to tap donors.

Apart from that and his war chest, Sanford is popular with voters in a Republican-leaning state, said Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University political science professor.

That leaves challengers hoping for the worst from Sanford.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FOR STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

Most candidates for statewide offices have filed reports for money they raised during the March-June quarter.

GOVERNOR

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford: Raised $642,987, has $3.4 million on hand

Republican Oscar Lovelace: Raised $20,940, has $21,580 on hand

Democrat State Sen. Tommy Moore: Raised $208,792, has $198,357 on hand

Democrat Florence Mayor Frank Willis: Raised $192,900, has $183,574 on hand

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer: No filing by Wednesday morning. Candidates have a five-day grace period.

Republican Mike Campbell: No filing Wednesday morning

Democrat Michael Hollings: Raised $14,600, has $14,600 on hand

EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT

Democrat Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum: Raised $177,004, has $158,844 on hand

Republican Karen Floyd: Raised $244,840, has $200,720 on hand

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Republican Attorney General Henry McMaster: Raised $50,462, has $174,610 on hand

COMPTROLLER GENERAL

Republican Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom: Raised $1,135. Has $180 on hand

Source: Candidate filings with State Ethics Commission