While most in South Carolina's political world have distanced themselves from scandal-tarred Gov. Mark Sanford, Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley continues to talk up her Sanford ties.

On Wednesday, Haley's campaign touted an endorsement from Jenny Sanford, the governor's estranged wife, featuring it prominently on Haley's Web site and sending around a release to reporters.

In her letter, Jenny Sanford writes that she is "proud of the work Mark and his Administration have done ... to reduce out-of-control state spending, reform archaic state government structure, and give children more educational choices." She makes no mention of his affair with an Argentinian woman, revealed in June, or the investigations into his use of state-funded travel, though she does allude, later in the letter, that it has been a "hard" year for her family.

Sanford continues that Haley is the best person to continue her husband's work when he completes his second and final term next year. "When I'm asked my wish for South Carolina's future, my wish is for a leader of state government like Nikki Haley. She's principled, conservative, tough, and smart," she writes.

South Carolina Democrat Jim Rex, the state Superintendent of Education, is now an official candidate for the 2010 election to succeed term-limited Republican Mark Sanford as governor.

Rex's bid, which he had earlier signaled, adds a statewide elected official to the crowded June Democratic primary field. His party is trying to overcome South Carolina's usual Republican leanings -- and take advantage of the turmoil surrounding Sanford, who has declined demands even from many fellow Republicans that he resign following his confession of an extramarital affair and allegations that he improperly used state-funded travel.

Rex didn't reference Sanford directly as he launched his campaign with an op-ed piece in The State newspaper in Columbia and in a statement on his campaign Web site. But a reference to the incumbent appeared clear in Rex's lament about the "seemingly endless distractions" that "have crippled our state government."

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster publicly confirmed he is a Republican candidate for governor Monday, making official a campaign that has been all-but-official for months.

McMaster declared that he was running for governor in a video message on his Web site posted Monday evening, saying he intends to help pull the state together and focus on creating new jobs. "Taxpayers no longer trust their government," he said. "There's been too much dishonesty and too many scandals," he added, a thinly-veiled dig at the state's incumbent Gov. Mark Sanford, a fellow Republican.

Sanford, who confessed to having an affair in June and has been under scrutiny since for his state-funded travel spending, is term-limited and will not seek office in 2010. McMaster asked the State Ethics Committee to look into the governor's use of state planes earlier this month.

McMaster's online announcement will be followed up with a week's worth of campaign activities, starting with a formal launch event Tuesday in Columbia, S.C. On Wednesday, the attorney and second-term AG will appear in Charleston, S.C. to talk about job creation and the state's economy, followed by stops in Greenville and Myrtle Beach. McMaster was set to kick-off campaign last Monday, but postponed the announcement following the death of his mother.

South Carolina state Sen. Vincent Sheheen cemented his front-runner standing among the Democratic field for governor when House Minority Leader Harry Ott decided not to join the race and instead throw his support behind Sheheen.

But Sheheen might not enjoy that lead position much longer, with State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex waiting in the wings, and likely to jump in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who is term-limited in 2010.

Rex, who has said he'll make a decision by Labor Day, has already begun drawing endorsements from local Democratic officials.

Ott had long been eyeing a run, as well, but issued a release Tuesday saying that it was Sheheen who would make the state's best chief executive. "On the issues that will define the success or failure of our next governor - particularly creating good jobs and revitalizing our public schools - Vincent is the candidate with the independence, experience and vision to move South Carolina forward," Ott said of his former House colleague and friend.

Prominent South Carolina attorney and lobbyist Dwight Drake announced Tuesday that he is running for South Carolina governor as a Democrat in 2010.

In a lengthy biographical Web video, Drake touted his work as an aide to former Democratic governors John West and Dick Riley in the 1970s and '80s and his role in bringing jobs to South Carolina -- in the form of a BMW plant -- while glossing over his career in government relations as a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough in Columbia, S.C.

In the video, Drake said he was running for governor because, "We need to get South Carolina working again," adding, "the past eight years have been wasted."

In a sign of Republican concern over Sen. Richard Burr's re-election chances, Burr's friend and Senate colleague, John McCain, is now running Google ads pumping the North Carolina freshman.

As first spotted by the Charlotte News and Observer, a Google search of "Richard Burr" brings up a sponsored link from McCain's Country First political action committee -- "Richard Burr NC Senator," it reads, followed by "Join John McCain's Country First to Support Candidates like Burr!"

The link leads to the PAC's Supported Candidates page.

State Rep. Nikki Haley is adding her name to the list of Republicans hoping to become governor of South Carolina in 2010. Haley, a staunch anti-tax advocate, confirmed Thursday that she will mount a run for the seat currently held by Republican Mark Sanford, who is prevented by term limits from running for a third term.

"For more than five years I've sat in the statehouse and watched - sometimes in disbelief - as our state government has spent with abandon and in the process wasted taxpayer dollar after taxpayer dollar," Haley said in a release. "I know what good government can look like. I'm running for Governor so the people of this state will know what it feels like."

Haley is the fourth Republican to officially join the race, following U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley, S.C., and Furman University professor Brent Nelsen. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Attorney General Henry McMaster are also expected to run for the Republican nomination.

Add two more Republicans to the mix of candidates for South Carolina governor. State Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley, S.C., confirmed to CQ Politics this week that he is officially a candidate. He said he likely will have an official campaign launch this summer, and in the meantime will be working to build up his campaign infrastructure.

State Rep. Nikki Haley, meanwhile, said this week that she is considering the race but has not yet made a decision.