South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson has raised more than $1 million for his own campaign treasury since his "You lie" shout during President Obama's address to Congress two weeks ago. And now Wilson is spreading the wealth with his Republican colleagues.

Wilson is headed to Michigan Oct. 2 for a fundraiser with Tim Walberg, a Republican who held the 7th District seat for one term before he was ousted by Democrat Mark Schauer in 2008. Walberg is now seeking a rematch in what is expected to be a competitive race.

According to Walberg's Web site, the event in the 7th District city of Jackson, "will feature Congressman Wilson and Tim Walberg discussing health care and the need to stop a government takeover."

For $150, attendees would get two tickets and a photo with Wilson.

Wilson chief of staff Eric Dell told CQ Politics that the four-term congressman -- who is seeking re-election next year -- will then head to Missouri later that week for a speaking engagement with local politicos at the request of Rep. Roy Blunt, the likely GOP nominee in the state's open-seat Senate contest.

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."

Republican Sen. Jim DeMint is not one of the Democrats' top priority targets for the 2010 campaign, if only because his home state of South Carolina leans so strongly Republican. And the challenging party's chances of ousting DeMint grew still slimmer after state Sen. C. Bradley Hutto, a leading prospective opponent, ruled out a challenge to the first-term incumbent.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Hutto would not run, quoting Phil Bailey, political director of the state Senate Democratic caucus. And a legal aide at Williams & Williams, the law firm in Orangeburg where Hutto practices, confirmed to CQ Politics on Monday that he had decided against the race.

Hutto is the second Democrat to take a pass on a challenge to DeMint, after Joe Erwin -- an advertising executive and former state Democratic party chairman -- ruled out a run in April.

The walls are caving in fast on South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who is hearing more calls to resign after compounding the confession of an affair last week with the revelation on Tuesday that he believes his Argentine flame is his "soul mate."

State party Chairwoman Karen Floyd, who had tried to stay out of the matter, left handwriting on wall for Sanford in big, capital letters in a statement released to reporters by request on Wednesday.

"For the past two days, I have been speaking with Republican leaders across South Carolina. There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Gov. Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life," she said.

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.

Democratic lawyer and businessman Mullins McLeod jumped in the 2010 South Carolina governor's race, saying he was confident he can win despite the state's Republican leanings.

"Unfortunately, some of our statewide Democratic candidates in the past have not run at the Republicans," McLeod told the Charleston Post and Courier "They've tried to imitate the Republicans, and I think that's why we lost. I'm going to run a modern, 21st century campaign that focuses on the issues that matter."

McLeod sent a letter Wednesday to delegates to the South Carolina Democratic party convention, which takes place this weekend, confirming his candidacy.

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint raised $699,000 in the first three months of the year and ended March with $2.2 million cash on hand, his campaign disclosed Thursday.

But the first-term Republican incumbent, who is up for re-election in 2010, is not resting. His campaign also announced a roster of six finance co-chairmen, which he deemed the "'Dream Team' of Palmetto State fundraisers." Among them are former Ambassador to Canada and former Speaker of the state House, David Wilkins and former state Republican party chairman and Spartanburg financial adviser Barry Wynn.

The political action wing of the anti-tax Club for Growth has endorsed Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina -- even though Coburn isn't sure he's running yet.

The twin endorsments for 2010 would normally come as little surprise, as the two are the most readily identifiable fiscal hawks in the Senate.

"It is hard to find a more devoted duo to the principles of limited government and economic freedom than Sens. Coburn and DeMint," said the Club's new president, former Indiana Republican Rep. Chris Chocola.