Eckstrom May Have Drawn An Opponent

By FITSNews || Less than a week after becoming the latest Palmetto State politician to find himself embroiled in a sex scandal, S.C. Comptroller General Richard Ecskstrom may have become the latest Palmetto State Republican to find himself with political opposition.

Sources tell FITS that Eckstrom could be on the verge of facing a primary challenge from a “credible candidate with the ability to self-finance.”

No further details were available, except that the challenger was “very seriously” considering mounting a campaign against Eckstrom, who acknowledged last week that he had engaged in a romantic relationship with high school teacher and S.C. Superintendent of Education candidate Kelly Payne.

Eckstrom has been separated from his wife for two years, while Payne is divorced.

Former Eckstrom staffer Curtis Loftis – who has all but committed to mounting bid for State Treasurer – is frequently rumored as a potential Comptroller General candidate, although at this point it appears he has committed to running against Converse Chellis, not Eckstrom.

No democrats appear interested in running for either office – which would leave two seats on the powerful S.C. Budget and Control Board uncontested.

Sources in Eckstrom’s office tell FITS that the Comptroller General has moved past the scandal and is focused on doing his job – a vastly different approach than the one taken last summer by S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, who literally couldn’t stop talking to reporters about his affair.

Indeed, Eckstrom was all business on Monday, praising Richland County (S.C.) for putting its checkbook online – part of his office’s effort to enhance local government transparency.

UPDATE: Sources tell FITS that one of the names being bandied about for the Comptroller General’s position is John Cattano, a close confidant of SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd who is currently serving as State Party Treasurer.