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State GOP chooses representative to RNC

The S.C. Republican Party has chosen its national commiteeman, one of three unpledged representatives to this summer's Republican National Convention.

Drew McKissick, a political strategist from Columbia, will replace Buddy Witherspoon, who resigned his position to run against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Under GOP rules, each state has a national committeeman and committeewoman as members of the Republican National Committee. They, and the state party chairman, can vote for whichever Presidential candidate they want.

The state's national committeewoman, Cindy Costa of Charleston, endorsed McKissick's bid, as did local Republicans Cleo Steele, Tom Swatzel, Glenn O'Connell and Lois Eargle, according to McKissick's Web site.

"I want to congratulate Drew on his hard fought victory," said S.C. party chair Katon Dawson in a news release. "Drew has worked for more than two decades to defend the conservative values we hold dear and to strengthen the Republican Party in South Carolina.  I am proud to serve with him."

McKissick, Costa and Dawson will join the state's pledged delegates, who are bound to vote for either John McCain or Mike Huckabee based on the results of the state Republican primary last month.

Inside the debate hall: Seating charts

The final number of seats is around 3,000, said Paul Edwards, the general manager of the convention center.

The prime seats are assigned, with candidates each getting a row for their supporters.

The Sun News got a sneak peak this morning.

Up front, S.C. Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson has two prime seats, for him and his wife, and next to them are two seats for Gov. Mark Sanford.

The candidates' seats are divided, three rows on each side of the stage.

On stage left, there's a row for Sen. John McCain, a row for former Gov. Mitt Romney and then a row for former Sen. Fred Thompson. On stage right, there's a row for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one for former Gov. Mike Huckabee and finally a row for Rep. Ron Paul.

MB Debate to feature six Republicans

The state Republican party has just announced the lineup for tomorrow night's debate, The Sun News is reporting.

And, it's pretty much the candidates you expected: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.

Here's the link to The Sun News' story: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/111/story/308330.html

Tickets for GOP debate still available

Tickets for the Republican presidential primary debate in Myrtle Beach are still available on the state party's Web site, but if you haven't already been invited to the Democratic presidential primary debate, don't expect to get in.

The Republicans have sold or allocated more than 1,000 tickets for their debate, which will be held Jan. 10 in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Tickets cost $150 and are for sale on the party's site, party spokesman Rob Godfrey said.

As for the Democrats, the debate is invitation-only, said Amie Lee, executive project coordinator for the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Up next: The great debate

Now that the date of the primary's out of the way, the press' attention has immediately turned to the S.C. Republican Party's debate.

The party has not announced where it will be held, or when. S.C. GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said on a press call the party would announce in the next week or so details about a Republican presidential debate sponsored by the state party. Where it will be held and when has not been selected, he said.

Fox News, ABC, MSNBC and CNN are looking at Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, said Robert Rabon, chairman of the Horry County Republican Party.

More on the primary date:

South Carolina's Republicans are committed to remaining first in the south, before Florida, Dawson said. He said the party members "are fairly sure that it will remain that way."

He said he could "absolutely" move the date again if any changes to the calendar occur.

"There's not a scenario I see right now where that would happen," he said.

Dawson said he did not know what, if any, sanctions the state party would receive from the national party for switching the date.

“We’ll deal with that after the primary season is over,” he said.

The fact that the primary is set two weeks earlier than most of the other states’ primaries is beneficial to some candidates, Dawson said.

“It gives a candidate like Mike Huckabee a chance,” he said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to throw the Hail Mary pass before you jump into the mega states.”

It's official

S.C. GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said  at the N.H. press conference that the Republican presidential primary will be Jan. 19.

He'll hold a conference call in 15 minutes to discuss.

GOP primary date incoming

Within the hour, S.C. GOP Chairman Katon Dawson is expected to announce the date of the state's Republican presidential primary.

Robert Rabon, head of the Horry County Republican Party, said he spoke with Dawson last night and learned it would be Jan. 19.

That's a Saturday - a departure from a traditional Tuesday election date.

Rabon said that's a good thing. Schools will be closed, people will be out of work. He predicted more people will vote.

"It’s real unique," he said. "It [makes] it easier on persons to go and vote."