Ten candidates to participate in historic First-in-the-South Presidential Candidates Debate

South Carolina Republican Party hosts first truly national presidential candidates debate

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Excitement surrounding presidential politics in South Carolina continues to grow as the South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today announced invitations will be extended to ten Republican presidential candidates to participate in the 2007 First-In-The-South Republican Party Presidential Candidates Debate.

Dawson said, in making the announcement, “We would like to extend a warm South Carolina welcome to ten White House hopefuls who are seeking the Republican nomination to be the next President of the United States.”

“The participants in our debate ensure South Carolina voters and Republicans visiting Columbia from across the country, get a chance to hear candidates for President candidly discuss important issues facing our future.  We are extremely proud to host the first truly national presidential candidates’ debate,” Dawson added.

The following candidates will be receiving formal invitations to the 2007 First-In-The-South Republican Party Presidential Candidates Debate (in alphabetical order):

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback – Kansas

Former Governor Jim Gilmore – Virginia

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani – New York City

Former Governor Mike Huckabee – Arkansas

U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter - California

U.S. Senator John McCain – Arizona

U.S. Congressman Ron Paul – Texas

Former Governor Mitt Romney – Massachusetts

U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo – Colorado

Former U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Tommy Thompson – Wisconsin

The 2007 First-In-The-South Republican Party Presidential Candidates debate will be televised live by FOX News Channel at 9:00 PM from the University of South Carolina’s Koger Center for the Arts on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.  Fox News Channel Washington Managing Editor Brit Hume will moderate the debate and Fox News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace and White House Correspondent Wendell Goler will ask questions of the candidates.
 

For additional information contact Rob Godfrey at (803) 988-8440.
 

Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party to Present the First Presidential Debate of the 2008 Campaign
Contact: Kara Borie
803.988.8440

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – The South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News jointly announced that they will present the first 2008 presidential debate on May 15, 2007.  The debate, which is expected to attract the top Republican contenders for President, will be shown live on FOX News Channel (FNC) and FOX News Radio from the University of South Carolina's Koger Center.  The South Carolina Republican Party is expected to hold its Presidential Primary in early February 2008.  There has never been a candidate to lose the South Carolina primary and successfully capture the Party's nomination for President.

In making this announcement, FOX News Executive Producer of Political Programs Marty Ryan said, "We look forward to presenting this debate to the nation and are proud to commit the air time and resources to the 2008 presidential election."

Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party added, "We are excited that Fox News will carry this important debate to voters all across the country.  The 'First in the South' Presidential Primary will again play a major role in electing our next president and it is very appropriate that the first in the nation Republican debate take place in South Carolina."

University of South Carolina Andrew A. Sorensen added, "The University of South Carolina is proud and honored to host this national event on our campus.  It is a great opportunity to observe the political process and to have candidates for president debate the critical issues of our time live in front of our faculty, staff, and students."  The University was founded in 1801 and has a statewide enrollment of over 39,000 students with more than 215,000 alumni around the world.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour general news service covering breaking news as well as political, business and entertainment news.  For more than four years, FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation and currently presents 11 out of the top 12 programs in cable news.  Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 85 million homes.
 
 

Thursday, August 03, 2006
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ON MAY 15, 2007
State will also hold first Southern Primary
Contact: Kara Borie
803.988.8440

(Minneapolis, MN) - Today at the Republican National Committee Summer meeting in Minneapolis, MN, the Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, Katon Dawson, announced that the SCGOP would host a Republican Presidential Debate on May 15, 2007.

“South Carolina will once again hold the “First in the South” Republican Presidential Primary in early 2008, so it is only fitting that our Party’s candidates debate the issues here in South Carolina,” said Dawson.

Dawson said that the debate will be held at the University of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia. “Several networks are eager to air the debate and we are confident it will have national appeal,” continued Dawson.

Several months ago, the SCGOP announced the creation of the South Carolina Presidential Primary Task Force to ensure that the state remain as the first Southern Presidential Primary.

“South Carolina has proven to be a great testing ground for presidential candidates and a launching pad to the White House,” said Dawson.

Since the inception of the South Carolina Primary in 1980, no candidate has ever lost the South Carolina Primary and gone on to become the Republican Party’s nominee for President.

The date of the state’s Republican Presidential Primary is set by the South Carolina Republican Party.
 
 

The South Carolina Presidential Primary Task Force members include:

Mr. Katon Dawson, Chairman of the SCGOP

Mr. Glenn McCall, 2nd Vice Chairman of the SCGOP

Dr. Buddy Witherspoon, RNC National Committeeman for S.C.

Mrs. Cindy Costa, RNC National Committeewoman for S.C.

The Honorable Harvey Peeler, Majority Leader of the S.C. State Senate

The Honorable Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives

Mr. Scott Malyerck, Executive Director of the SCGOP

Mrs. LaDonna Ryggs, President of the S.C. Federation of Republican Women

Drew McKissick, Chairman of the SCGOP Rules Committee

Mr. Tony Denny, former SCGOP Executive Director

Mr. Bob McAlister, President of McAlister Communications

Mr. Hank Scott, CEO Collum’s Lumber Products, LLC

Mr. Bill H. Stern, President Stern & Stern and Associates
 

History of the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary:

Year         Winner                 Percentage         2nd Place

1980         Ronald Reagan        55%                 John Connally

1984         uncontested

1988         George Bush            49%                 Bob Dole

1992         George Bush            67%                 Pat Buchanan

1996         Bob Dole                  45%                 Pat Buchanan

2000         George W. Bush       53%                 John McCain

2004         uncontested
 
 

Information can also be found on the South Carolina Republican Party’s website, www.scgop.com.