In a crowded State House lobby outside the legislative chamber Thursday morning, State Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden, who is running for governor, announced the names of 40 Democrats in the General Assembly who are endorsing his candidacy for their party’s nomination.

The list includes 30 members of the S.C. House and 10 from the Senate. A handful of them stood behind him at the news conference, praising his commitment to the party.

Sheheen is “the right man for the right job at the right time,” said Sen. Joel Lourie of Columbia.

Sheheen responded to those around him by saying, “When I look at this group, I see leadership.” He also said he supports raising the state’s lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax.

Sheheen’s list of Democratic endorsements includes South Carolina’s longest-serving legislator, Sen. John Land, who is the minority leader in that chamber. The House’s minority leader, Rep. Harry Ott, also endorsed Sheheen.
 
The Kershaw County city prosecutor gained a bump in momentum in recent weeks when his closest financial rival in the race, Lowcountry lawyer Mullins McLeod, decided to drop out and endorse Sheheen in the June 8 primary.

His closest competitor on the money front is now Columbia attorney and former lobbyist Dwight Drake. Drake has said he is the only candidate for governor of either party from the private sector.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, who has had low cash-on-hand but high poll numbers, and Charleston Sen. Robert Ford are also running for the nomination.

Update: Sheheen’s endorsements come a week after State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex gained the support of 47 of the state’s school district superintendents for his gubernatorial run in the Democratic primary. And this week Lexington School District 3 Superintendent Chester Floyd said he also supports Rex for governor, according to the Rex campaign.