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Will Alan Wilson Draw A Challenger?

Vulnerable incumbent has dodged bullets … so far …

South Carolina attorney general Alan Wilson ought to be the most vulnerable “Republican” in the Palmetto State heading into the 2018 election year.  His once-promising political career essentially imploded last spring, and this year’s steady escalation of an ongoing anti-corruption investigation – one many believe his office tried to obstruct – has garnered him additional rounds of negative press.

Multiple, credible challengers have also been contemplating filing against him …

“He’s a slow, wounded zebra moving across the Serengeti,” one GOP strategist told us.  “Makes for a nice meal.”

Maybe so … but as the 2018 election season advances, Wilson remains in the catbird’s seat.

Despite recent fundraising struggles (Wilson backers say he simply hasn’t been focused on fundraising this year), the embattled attorney general still had a cool million in his reelection account.

That’s nothing to sneeze at in a down-ballot race …

“He’ll raise another two (million),” a source close to Wilson told us.

So far, Wilson’s only announced opposition is Greenville, S.C. attorney William Herlong.

According to our sources, Herlong has the ability to self-fund his candidacy.  Ethics filings reveal he’s already pumped at least $24,000 into his campaign account – but he hasn’t submitted filings since January.

With Herlong’s status uncertain, sources in the Upstate tell us Wilson could soon face a challenge from a sitting S.C. circuit solicitor with ties to the political empire of “Republican” consultant J. Warren Tompkins.

Which solicitor? Our sources didn’t say …

Whoever they are, they’ll need to get a move on.  Successful statewide campaigns need to spend the fall season prior to an election year building their fundraising and grassroots networks so that they are positioned in the spring to focus on media and get-out-the-vote efforts.

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