Thursday, November 1, 2007
Contact: Rob Godfrey, Communications Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today certified eleven candidates to appear on the 2008 First-in-the-South Republican Party Presidential Primary ballot.  The South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher in this election, and we are proud to certify an outstanding slate of candidates to appear on our First-in-the-South Republican Presidential Primary ballot,” said South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson.  “History has proven that presidential politics in South Carolina is about much more than 30-second television ads and clever sound bites. Presidential candidates realize they must come to South Carolina, shake our hands and look us square in the eyes if they want our votes. The citizens of this state are fortunate enough to meet the candidates face-to-face and actually get to know the next President of the United States.”

Below in alphabetical order are the names of the candidates – spelled as they will appear on the ballot:

The First-in-the-South Republican Party Presidential Primary has grown in significance over time.  Since 1980, no candidate has won the Republican nomination for president without first winning South Carolina’s Republican Party primary.