Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer left his car at the State House Wednesday and set off on foot for the 12-mile trek to the South Carolina Republican Party headquarters in Lexington to file for re-election.

He was wearing khakis, sneakers and a blue, long-sleeve shirt.

“It’s a symbolic gesture to get off on a new foot,” he said, alluding to two recent high-speed driving incidents that netted him warnings and attention.

Before Bauer set out on foot, the June 13 GOP primary race for lieutenant governor got a bit more crowded. Earlier in the day, Henry Jordan, a surgeon from Anderson, strolled into party headquarters and plopped down his filing papers.

Jordan, a controversial figure from his days serving on the state Board of Education, said he had been toying with the idea of running for six months and was not driven by news about Bauer.

He joins Michael Campbell, son of the late Gov. Carroll Campbell, as a candidate in the GOP primary.

Bauer left the State House after 4 p.m. and headed over the Gervais Street bridge toward Lexington. He listened to music and sang on the walk.

The trip was largely uneventful, with little interaction between Bauer and cars driving by.

Bauer arrived at GOP headquarters about 6:40 p.m. After dropping off filing papers, he left in a car — riding in the back seat.

Others, however, weren’t amused. They saw the walk as a stunt designed to draw attention away from news that Bauer had been pulled over — but not ticketed — by S.C. Highway Patrol officers for doing 101 mph on the night of Feb. 25.

The lieutenant governor was also stopped on Dec. 26 in Laurens County for doing 77 to 78 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 385. He was given only a warning after the trooper recognized him.

The Chester County incident involved Bauer’s use of a police radio, with which he identified himself to dispatchers as “SC2.”

“He’s trying to make some hay out of this. But I don’t see how this cannot become a campaign issue. There is no way to spin this well,” said Winthrop University political scientist Scoff Huffmon. “Talk about a stunt.”

Long political walks are not new for Bauer, who is in good physical shape. He walked across South Carolina during his 2002 campaign.

Jordan was aware of Bauer’s brush with the law and said he felt sorry for him, sort of.

“I think it’s very unfortunate for him and the state. Obviously, I’m his opponent and I don’t want to see him do well,” Jordan said.

Bauer was asked about Jordan and replied, “He’s a great guy.”

Jordan drew criticism and calls for his resignation in May 1997 after comments he made during a meeting of the state board’s finance and legislative panel. There, he asked about letting schools post the Ten Commandments voluntarily. When told other religious groups, such as Buddhists, might object, Jordan said, “Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims.”

Jordan said Wednesday he learned some hard lessons from that controversy and he is a much better, more sensitive candidate for it.

Jordan said he will do everything in his power to make Republican Gov. Mark Sanford look good if elected.

“I’ve been really pleased with him,” he said. “He’s trying to put things in play that we have worked for for 30 years, such as limited government, tax cuts and health care reform.”

Jordan said he decided Tuesday to run. He said he will represent the “Christian right and the more conservative wing of the party.”

Expressing optimism on Wednesday, as well, was Campbell.

His campaign issued a press release late Wednesday afternoon saying Campbell had loaned $500,000 to his campaign.

The step, he said, was made to reaffirm his commitment.

Staff writers Roddie Burris and Aaron Gould Sheinin contributed.