She’s never going to be able to match Mark Sanford in the money war, but it appears as though state representative Katie Arrington will be able to mount a competitive campaign against the vulnerable incumbent “Republican” this spring.

According to a news release from her campaign, the feisty freshman state lawmaker has half million dollars in the bank with two months to go before the 2018 “Republican” congressional primary for the Palmetto State’s first congressional district (map).

That should be enough money for Arrington to get her message out … and it may even be a sufficiently strong showing to lure some third party cash into the race.

Democrats certainly hope that doesn’t happen …

Why not? Because they want Sanford to win …

In fact, a Sanford victory is critical to their plan to “flip the first” this November. If national “Republican” groups get into this race on Arrington’s behalf and help lead her to victory, it could threaten Democratic efforts to steal a seat in the most “conservative state in America.”

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Money is obviously no issue for Sanford. Heading into the year he had more than $1.5 million in the bank to spend on his reelection – and our guess is the methodical money-raiser has only added to that total over the first quarter of 2018.

Will that be enough to carry the former term limit backer to a fourth term in his second stint in Washington, D.C.?

We shall see …

The leading #NeverTrump “Republican” in the U.S. congress, Sanford is arguably the most hypocritical elected official in South Carolina history (which is saying something). He bills himself as a fiscal conservative, but he voted for uber-liberal former U.S. speaker of the House John Boehner in 2015. And then told us Jesus made him do it.

No wonder he was badly exposed during his 2016 race against underfunded, left-leaning GOP candidate Jenny Horne.

Arrington has run a much more adept race against the beleaguered incumbent … but Democrats are desperately hoping she will only wound him, not take him out.

South Carolina’s perpetual minority party has put forward a credible, well-funded candidate for this seat in the form of environmental attorney Joe Cunningham – who (like Arrington) also adeptly targeting Sanford’s myriad vulnerabilities. But if Arrington defeats Sanford, then the GOP will likely hold the seat – which was recently moved from a “solid GOP” seat to a “likely GOP” seat according to the latest editions of The Cook Political Report.

Stay tuned.

Many believe Sanford is a lock to win the GOP nomination over Arrington on June 12, but Arrington was also underestimated two years ago when she won a contested primary for the House seat she now holds.

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