Just a few days away from the Third Congressional District's Republican primary runoff next Tuesday, businessman Richard Cash of Powdersville said that he and opponent Jeff Duncan do share much in common.

The difference, Cash said during a brief campaign stop in Aiken Thursday, is that Duncan - a veteran S.C. House member from Laurens County - is taking special interest money to finance his campaign. Cash has not and will not accept such contributions.

"This is not an attack on (Duncan's) character or his career in the State House," said Cash. "But he has received $250,000 in donations from special interest groups and Political Action Committees. They come from 30 states, from New York to California, Michigan and Texas."

Aiken physician Dr. Mike Vasovski, who with three other congressional candidates, was eliminated in the first race June 8. He gave his support to Cash Thursday, although he didn't actually call it an endorsement.

"The person I'm going to vote for is standing in front of me," Vasovski said. He and his wife Cindy have supported Cash's campaign with the largest contribution an individual can give, he said.

"What we have to do," Vasovski said, "is take back our government from the special interests."

Cash, who led the field in the first race, said he and Duncan share a strong fiscal conservatism. They want to rein in runaway spending to protect future generations.

However, Cash also supports a constitutional amendment that would require a 10-year term limit for House members, including himself if elected. Duncan has not supported voluntary term limits, Cash said.

"I've also pledged," he said, "that as long as I serve in the House, I will not take any money from lobbyists, PACs and special interest groups. There's a simple reason for this. If you take their money, they expect favors and access and influence in the legislative process."

From April 1 to June 1, Cash said, 97 percent of his campaign funds were received within the Third District. During that same period, he said, only 21 percent of Duncan's campaign fund raising came from within the district.

"There is nothing illegal or even wrong with this," Cash said. "But I profoundly disagree with special interest money - especially coming from outside the district and trying to determine the deciding vote."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.