SC Election Commission beginning 2012 primary work

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina election officials are moving toward putting on the 2012 Republican presidential primary and hope to have plans completed by October.

The first-in-the-South primary’s funding and fate were put in doubt by state budget writers and Gov. Nikki Haley’s veto of money for the contest. The Legislature overrode the veto last week and the state’s attorney general says the Election Commission can run to primary.

Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said Wednesday his agency will develop a contract with the state GOP by October. The commission will determine the final cost for the primary and what the Republican Party must pay.

The commission has leftover money from last year’s elections and some of that can be used to offset the primary’s estimated $1 million-plus tab.