By John McArdle, CQ-Roll Call

Former Arkansas governor and conservative champion Mike Huckabee is trying to stir up some fundraising enthusiasm for a candidate in a crowded open-seat race in South Carolina.

Huckabee is sending a letter to supporters of Rex Rice, asking for donations “large and small,” and perhaps even a match for the $1,000 that Huckabee’s political committee gave earlier this year to Rice, one of seven Republican candidates vying for the nomination to replace Republican Rep. Gresham Barrett.

Barrett is running for governor.

Rice has raised $112,000 since filing in the spring, but he ended September with less than $34,000 in the bank.

As for the other Republicans in the race, state Sen. Shane Massey reported $39,000 in the bank on Sept. 30 -- a small sum by most campaign standards, but enough to lead the field.

No other Republican candidate has raised more than $78,000 since filing, and three of the GOP candidates reported less than $15,000 cash on hand at the end of the third quarter.

“As you well know, a successful campaign for Congress is extremely expensive,” Huckabee wrote in his appeal. “So I hope you will be as generous in your support for Rex as you have been for me.”

The 3rd Congressional District on the western side of the state is a Republican stronghold, where the GOP primary is virtually certain to decide who will replace Barrett.

The crowded contest probably won’t be decided until a June 22 runoff.

Other Republicans vying for the nomination include state Rep. Jeff Duncan, businessman Richard Cash, physician Mike Vasovski, lawyer and former Congressional aide James Galyean, and lawyer Neal Collins.

To follow all the 2010 House races, check out our election map