Political spotlight to shine brightly on S.C.
By LEE BANDY
lbandy@thestate.com
South Carolina will be the center of the political universe the next two years as the 2008 presidential campaign heats up.
The state got a huge boost two weekends ago when the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws panel recommended the party move South Carolina higher in the pecking order of 2008 presidential primaries.
“It gives us a great opportunity to play an important role in picking a candidate,” said state Democratic chairman Joe Erwin of Greenville.
In 2004, South Carolina Democrats shared the spotlight with four other states.
“This time, South Carolina will be the only state in play,” Erwin said.
“That’s a big deal,” said former state party chairman Dick Harpootlian, who fought hard for a stand-alone primary three years ago. “This will be the defining moment in the Democratic presidential contest.”
S.C. Republicans hope to share in that moment. The state GOP executive committee will meet in September 2007 to select a date for that party’s S.C. presidential primary. The only thing certain is that date will be the first GOP contest in the South, S.C. GOP chairman Katon Dawson said.
Democrats envision a 2008 lineup that begins with Iowa’s caucuses on Monday, Jan. 14, followed by Nevada’s caucuses, probably on Saturday, Jan. 19.
New Hampshire would hold its first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday, Jan. 22. South Carolina’s primary probably would come a week later on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The Democratic National Committee meets in Chicago Aug. 17-19 to ratify the primary calendar.
There had been some hope Republicans and Democrats would get together and hold primaries on the same day.
“It certainly makes sense,” Erwin said. “There’s certainly a lot of logic behind it. It would cut costs in half.”
Dawson, however, balks at that idea.
“We like to have our primary by itself and showcase our candidates,” he said. “We’re not making our plans because of what the DNC has done.”
Cost estimates of putting on a primary range between $250,000 and $350,000.
Both parties are expected to have crowded and hotly contested races in 2008, the first presidential primary campaign since 1952 without a sitting president or vice president running.
While it may be early for the candidates to be lining up firm commitments, it’s not too early for stepping out.
Potential candidates have visited the state as many as three or four times this year.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, was here two weeks ago and attracted large crowds.
Other potential Democratic presidential candidates who have visited this year include U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana; former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004; Iowa Gov. Thomas Vilsack; and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner,.
Republicans have made appearances, too.
U.S. Sens. George Allen of Virginia, Bill Frist of Tennessee and John McCain of Arizona have been in the state.
So has U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New York Gov. George Pataki and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
“The focus of the nation will be on South Carolina,” Harpootlian said. “I think the next president will be picked here.”
lbandy@thestate.com
South Carolina will be the center of the political universe the next two years as the 2008 presidential campaign heats up.
The state got a huge boost two weekends ago when the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws panel recommended the party move South Carolina higher in the pecking order of 2008 presidential primaries.
“It gives us a great opportunity to play an important role in picking a candidate,” said state Democratic chairman Joe Erwin of Greenville.
In 2004, South Carolina Democrats shared the spotlight with four other states.
“This time, South Carolina will be the only state in play,” Erwin said.
“That’s a big deal,” said former state party chairman Dick Harpootlian, who fought hard for a stand-alone primary three years ago. “This will be the defining moment in the Democratic presidential contest.”
S.C. Republicans hope to share in that moment. The state GOP executive committee will meet in September 2007 to select a date for that party’s S.C. presidential primary. The only thing certain is that date will be the first GOP contest in the South, S.C. GOP chairman Katon Dawson said.
Democrats envision a 2008 lineup that begins with Iowa’s caucuses on Monday, Jan. 14, followed by Nevada’s caucuses, probably on Saturday, Jan. 19.
New Hampshire would hold its first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday, Jan. 22. South Carolina’s primary probably would come a week later on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The Democratic National Committee meets in Chicago Aug. 17-19 to ratify the primary calendar.
There had been some hope Republicans and Democrats would get together and hold primaries on the same day.
“It certainly makes sense,” Erwin said. “There’s certainly a lot of logic behind it. It would cut costs in half.”
Dawson, however, balks at that idea.
“We like to have our primary by itself and showcase our candidates,” he said. “We’re not making our plans because of what the DNC has done.”
Cost estimates of putting on a primary range between $250,000 and $350,000.
Both parties are expected to have crowded and hotly contested races in 2008, the first presidential primary campaign since 1952 without a sitting president or vice president running.
While it may be early for the candidates to be lining up firm commitments, it’s not too early for stepping out.
Potential candidates have visited the state as many as three or four times this year.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, was here two weeks ago and attracted large crowds.
Other potential Democratic presidential candidates who have visited this year include U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana; former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004; Iowa Gov. Thomas Vilsack; and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner,.
Republicans have made appearances, too.
U.S. Sens. George Allen of Virginia, Bill Frist of Tennessee and John McCain of Arizona have been in the state.
So has U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New York Gov. George Pataki and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
“The focus of the nation will be on South Carolina,” Harpootlian said. “I think the next president will be picked here.”
posted by SCGOP at 4:13 AM
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