LT. GOV. OPENS ACCOUNT FOR LIKELY GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer gave disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford until the end of October to resign and let him ascend to the state’s top executive post, or he would announce his candidacy for governor.

That deadline is about to expire. And on Thursday, Bauer took the first step toward a likely gubernatorial bid by setting a campaign account.

“We deposited checks today and will immediately start the process of asking our previous donors to allow us to convert our deposits from the lieutenant governor account,” said Cathy Novinger, chairwoman of the Bauer for Governor Finance Committee.

By law, Bauer must obtain written permission from all previous donors to transfer the $825,000 currently in his lieutenant governor account to the new account.

Campaign consultant Chris LaCivita told The State newspaper that the campaign will begin organizing immediately and has filed the necessary paperwork with the State Ethics Commission. LaCivita said a formal announcement could be expected soon.