Institute encouraging women to seek office in 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A group that works to get more women elected in South Carolina has launched an online course about how to run a campaign.

The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics announced Monday that the daylong training courses it has been conducting across the state are now available online.

The bi-partisan group says the project comes with the financial backing of Blue Cross Blue Shield South Carolina and the high-tech expertise of IT-ology.

South Carolina continues to rank last in the country in the percentage of women in the Legislature.

Institute president Mary Anne Jacobs says 2012 offers a great opportunity because of the redrawing of election district lines after the Census and the presidential election turning out more voters.

Filing for state elected office is 68 days away.