COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has some buyer's remorse after paying a $25,000 fee to compete in South Carolina's first-in-the-South presidential primary.
Pawlenty dropped out of in August. He said he'd like to get a refund from South Carolina's Republican Party. Pawlenty paid the filing fee early to claim a spot in the primary's first debate in May. He dropped out after a third-place showing in an Iowa straw poll.
The state GOP says filing fees aren't refundable. They're used to help Republicans cover about half of the primary's tab of more than $1 million.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich haven't paid their filing fees yet. They're due Nov. 5.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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