COLUMBIA - Weeks before South Carolina's state treasurer was indicted on a federal cocaine charge, his supporters were encouraging him to run for the U.S. Senate, an Associated Press review of e-mail records shows.

Thomas Ravenel also used public time and his state e-mail account as part of his work as Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign chairman in South Carolina, which is barred under state regulations.

E-mails obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act offer a glimpse into the life of a multimillionaire first-term state official whose time was spent in part fielding requests for favors, considering loftier political goals, and dabbling in presidential politics.

None of the records relate to his June 19 federal charge: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. Mr. Ravenel, 44, is accused of sharing cocaine with his friends, not selling the drug, authorities said.

Mr. Ravenel is not expected to appear at today's arraignment. He entered a 30-day rehab program at an Arizona psychiatric hospital, according to court documents.

Just weeks before the indictment, the Republican received more than a dozen requests from people around the state urging him to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2008.

Mr. Ravenel and his spokesman also bantered via computer during work hours about an op-ed by Mr. Ravenel encouraging support for Mr. Giuliani.

South Carolina government ethics rules prohibit state workers from using time on the job, or state equipment, to work on political campaigns.