COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The South Carolina Election Commission and the state Republican Party have taken a step to head off legal threats over January's presidential primary from counties that worried the state wouldn't pick up the cost of running the contest.
Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said in an email Tuesday that the GOP has agreed to pay all legitimate expenses related to running the primary scheduled Jan. 21.
Counties were worried they would be left paying for thousands in overtime, mileage and maintenance expenses that the state typically does not cover.
Whitmire says the commission will review county reimbursement requests for allowable expenses.
South Carolina Republicans will pay most of the tab for a contest estimated to cost more than $1.2 million.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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