Liberal Capital City lobbyist and current S.C. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dwight Drake fired several members of his campaign finance staff Monday morning after they reportedly failed to meet their quarterly fund-raising goals, sources tell FITS.
Drake – who was on vacation skiing last week – reportedly instructed Columbia lawyer and former S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian to terminate the individuals on his behalf.
Drake reported receipts of $300,000 at the close of the previous fund-raising quarter in October, a figure that was well below what insiders were expecting from his campaign given its extensive special interest connections. Drake also spent $70,000 last quarter, leaving his campaign with $230,000 cash on hand.
That figure placed Drake behind presumed democratic front-runner Sen. Vincent Sheheen ($627,000) and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod ($320,000) in the cash on hand race, but ahead of S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, who reported an abysmal $44,500 cash on hand in October.
Drake’s fourth quarter fund-raising total is said to be much lower than his third quarter total, although sources close to Drake’s campaign would not confirm either the firings or comment on the fund-raising totals.
Stay tuned …
By Matt January 4, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Who is on Drake’s campaign staff that got fired and/or who is staying?
It has been a lot easier to figure out who is running efforts for Rex, Sheheen and McLeod–all those camps are largely staffed by SC-based operatives. Not sure yet if same is true for Drake.
By Jeffy01 January 4, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Just wait until Luke and Leah get back from saving the universe!
By Todd January 4, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Dick H is probably the only guy I know who would enjoy firin’ people more than a sexual experience.
By Hal I. January 4, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I think EVERYONE’s numbers will be down this quarter (holiday spending, charitable giving, ongoing recession, truncated period in which to raise), but I had heard Rex was the one having trouble raking in cash, not Drake. Oughta be an interesting reporting period.
By WorkingTommyC January 4, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Does he have to return the cash they raised so far?
By freddie guy January 4, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Will:
Did you run this story as an excuse to post a Chewbacca pic for Dwight Drake?
If so, great job!
Nonetheless, I also learned that Drake is a poor-white, vacationing, ultra-liberal lobbyist that is a tyrant that turns over all decisions to God (Dick Harpootlain).
I think this story should have focused more on the Harpootlian factor and used a pic of the Wizard of Oz man behind the curtain as Dick. Of course with apologies to the man behind the curtain…
Fred
By Calhoun Fawls January 5, 2010 at 8:12 am
Great photo of Drake!
By Jeffy01 January 5, 2010 at 11:48 am
Ear hair gone wild