Texas Gov. Perry to headline SC GOP fundraiser

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be the first GOP presidential hopeful to headline a series of fundraisers to put on South Carolina’s first-in-the-South presidential primary.

State Republican Party Executive Director Matt Moore said Monday that Perry will be the keynote speaker at the $75-a-plate fundraiser Friday in Columbia.

The primary will cost at least $1 million to put on, and the state GOP is responsible for picking up more than half of the contest’s costs. Moore says the party has raised $160,000 from candidate filing fees already. He expects about $140,000 more in those fees as other candidates file.

Perry announced Saturday in Charleston that he’s seeking the GOP’s nomination and said he’d spend plenty of time courting voters here. He also plans a campaign stop in Florence on Friday.