Escaping petition gubernatorial candidate Tom Ervin on television will be difficult over the next three weeks.
The former state lawmaker and judge is spending $2 million to air three TV ads statewide through Labor
Day, according to a source close to his campaign. The latest spot starts Tuesday.
“That’s a lot of money in a short window,” veteran S.C. GOP political consultant Chip Felkel said. “You won’t be able to avoid him.”
The ad buy means Ervin, a Greenville attorney and radio-station owner, will have laid out as much money — $3.5 million — as Republican incumbent Gov. Nikki Haley and Democratic challenger Vincent Sheheen had spent together through June 30.
“This introduces South Carolinians to Tom Ervin and his common-sense solutions for a more inclusive economy, tough ethics reform and a quality education for every child,” Ervin campaign spokesman Christian Hertenstein said.
Ervin, a self-proclaimed “independent Republican” who is considered a long shot after entering the race in March, has self-financed much of his campaign so far.
All but $62,000 of the $1.5 million collected by Ervin’s campaign through June has come from personal loans. His wife, Kathryn Williams, runs a successful personal injury and worker’s compensation law practice.
But Ervin is far from the major-party candidates, according to a poll last month conducted for four S.C. media outlets. Ervin received 3 percent support from those polled, just ahead of Libertarian candidate Steve French, who has spent $2,500 so far.
Ervin’s August ad blitz could help bolster those numbers, Felkel said.