(Published December 8‚ 2003)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - House Speaker David Wilkins announced Monday that he will serve as chairman of the state campaign to re-elect President Bush.

Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham are co-chairmen.

The Bush-Cheney steering committee in South Carolina includes prominent figures in the state Republican party, including U.S. Reps. Henry Brown, Joe Wilson, Gresham Barrett and Jim DeMint; and former Govs. Carroll Campbell, David Beasley and Jim Edwards.

"No one else is as enthusiastically committed to re-electing President Bush as we are here in South Carolina," said Wilkins, who served as a Bush campaign chairman in 2000. "Working together, we will deliver a big victory for President Bush here in South Carolina next November."

Although Graham has publicly disagreed with Bush over issues such as trade and spending, he said he disagrees more with the Democrats.

"The president is focused on a plan for America that is rooted in optimism and nurtured by hope and opportunity," Graham said. "President Bush has had the courage to tackle tough issues important to South Carolina."

Sanford and steering committee vice chairwoman Kathy Bigham praised Bush's tax cuts and education reform.

Bush-Cheney campaign manager Ken Mehlman said they have not yet determined how much the contest will cost in South Carolina. Bush has made numerous campaign stops in the Republican-leaning state, most recently last month.

Bush's campaign account already tops $111 million. He has one more fund-raiser scheduled this year, an event Dec. 11 in McLean, Va. Vice President Dick Cheney also has one more, Dec. 12 in Jackson, Miss.