Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party are planning a “First in the South” presidential debate in early May.
Outgoing state GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd announced the debate Wednesday. The event is scheduled to take place May 5 in downtown Greenville at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. In 2004, Democratic presidential candidates debated at the same venue.
Outgoing state GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd announced the debate Wednesday. The event is scheduled to take place May 5 in downtown Greenville at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. In 2004, Democratic presidential candidates debated at the same venue.
The South Carolina GOP and Fox News will also host a second debate in early 2012, just ahead of the state’s primary at a location to be announced later.
“We are incredibly pleased to partner with Fox News to host the First in the South 2012 Republican Presidential debate,” Floyd said in a statement. “South Carolina Republicans have a flawless record in selecting our party’s presidential nominee, and our state will continue to play a pivotal role in the 2012 nominating process. The eyes of the nation will be watching South Carolina starting on May 5.”
The South Carolina primary is typically scheduled after the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Since 1980, the state has played a decisive role in GOP presidential politics — every winner of the Palmetto State primary since that year has gone on to win the Republican Party nomination.
In 2000, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush defeated Arizona Sen. John McCain by 11 percentage points in a contest that sapped McCain’s momentum after his New Hampshire primary victory. McCain avenged that loss in 2008, winning the South Carolina primary, and eventually the GOP nomination, over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished fourth, after former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
On Tuesday, CNN, WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader announced they would host the first New Hampshire GOP primary debate on June 7. POLITICO and NBC News will co-host the first debate of the 2012 cycle next spring at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46423.html
“We are incredibly pleased to partner with Fox News to host the First in the South 2012 Republican Presidential debate,” Floyd said in a statement. “South Carolina Republicans have a flawless record in selecting our party’s presidential nominee, and our state will continue to play a pivotal role in the 2012 nominating process. The eyes of the nation will be watching South Carolina starting on May 5.”
The South Carolina primary is typically scheduled after the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Since 1980, the state has played a decisive role in GOP presidential politics — every winner of the Palmetto State primary since that year has gone on to win the Republican Party nomination.
In 2000, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush defeated Arizona Sen. John McCain by 11 percentage points in a contest that sapped McCain’s momentum after his New Hampshire primary victory. McCain avenged that loss in 2008, winning the South Carolina primary, and eventually the GOP nomination, over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished fourth, after former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
On Tuesday, CNN, WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader announced they would host the first New Hampshire GOP primary debate on June 7. POLITICO and NBC News will co-host the first debate of the 2012 cycle next spring at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46423.html