Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) – A representative on Texas Gov. Rick Perry's behalf filed for his candidacy in South Carolina Thursday, and two more presidential hopefuls are expected to follow suit.
State GOP Executive Director Matthew Moore confirms that Katon Dawson, Perry's campaign chairman in the state, delivered to party headquarters the paperwork and $35,000 required to get on the Republican presidential primary ballot.
That leaves Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who must file by Nov. 1 if they want their names on the critical first Southern primary ballot in January 2012.
Moore said both presidential candidates are expected to file Friday. Gingrich will hand everything over to state party Chairman Chad Connelly in Greenville where he'll be kicking off a two-day campaign swing in the state.
Bachmann has not returned to South Carolina in just under two months and will be campaigning in Iowa tomorrow, but Moore said her husband Marcus will deliver the primary paperwork to their Columbia headquarters Friday afternoon.
Ann Romney, wife of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, filed on her husband's behalf in the state last month.
Other GOP candidates that have already filed in South Carolina include former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
Also see:
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
It's official in South Carolina! Rick Perry is an idiot, no matter what state he's in!
"Making it official"?!? Are they announcing they're now a threesome?
It's more complicated than a threesome, Anonymous. Gingrich loves Bachmann, who's in love with Perry. And Perry's in love with himself.
Ron Paul? I thought he was not official, and just trying to deliver a message...That's what I keep reading in the news.
Perry / Palin
DREAM TEAM !
No Debates , No Lame Stream Media
Only Cartoons or Picture Books
This should make for some great laughs, Threes Company 2011
It's Official:Perry, Bachmann and Gringrich should all quit the 2012 GOP Presidential Nomination because none of them has a chance of getting nominated!! This is really a two-man race and it comprises the contestants: Rommey and Cain.
Bachmann and Grinch have $35k?