GOP primary set for Jan. 19
By Yvonne Wenger
Thursday, August 9, 2007
South Carolina Republicans will vote Jan. 19 in the 2008 presidential primary, state party Chairman Katon Dawson announced today.
Although the state GOP had tentatively scheduled the primary for Feb. 2, Dawson decided to set the date earlier to preserve South Carolina’s first-in-the-South status after Florida scheduled its primary for Jan. 29.
Democrats in South Carolina would still vote on Jan. 29, party Chairwoman Carol Fowler said this morning.
“South Carolina Democrats are committed to following the rules set forth by the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee,” she said in a statement. “The date we’ve been given to have our Presidential Primary is Jan. 29, 2008, and the penalties for changing it are severe. No matter what South Carolina Republicans do, we are committed to following the rules of our party.”
Dawson originally announced the date at a press conference at 11 a.m. at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., where the first-in-the-nation primary will be held.
“Chairman Dawson respects New Hampshire’s historical role as the first in the nation,” said Rob Godfrey, spokesman for the S.C. Republican Party. “He wants to pay deference to New Hampshire.”
Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-Charleston, said he is pleased at Dawson’s effort to preserve South Carolina position.
“South Carolina was the lead in President Bush’s election,” Scarborough said. “We helped catapult him to the forefront. South Carolina is the testing ground. I think people look to us as the real straw poll.”
It is not immediately clear what the shift will mean for the primary dates in other states.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Republican insiders said the change would likely lead New Hampshire to schedule its primary on Jan. 7 or 8, and Iowa to hold its leadoff caucuses as early as mid-December, perhaps on the 17th.
Iowa has been slated to hold its contest Jan. 14 with New Hampshire on Jan. 22. Nevada’s GOP caucuses are scheduled for Jan. 19, and there are no indications that date would change, according to the Associated Press. Unlike here, state laws in Iowa and New Hampshire require officials to hold the first caucus and primary in the nation, respectively.
South Carolina voters have given the Republican nomination to Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George Bush, Godfrey said.
“No candidate has gone on to win the Republican nomination for president without winning South Carolina,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey said Dawson has been critical in solidifying South Carolina’s role in the primaries. Candidates – both Republican and Democrat – began courting South Carolina voters about a year ago and the frequency of visits has increased in the last several months.
The state also played host to three presidential debates so far this year.
“South Carolina is a state that picks presidents thanks to Chairman Dawson’s work,” Godfrey said.
GOP primary set for Jan. 19
