SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO TEAM UP WITH NBC NEWS AND SC STATE UNIVERSITY FOR FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
January 8th, 2007
Orangeburg, SC – South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Joe Erwin and Congressman Jim Clyburn traveled to South Carolina State University today to announce that South Carolina will host the first candidates’ debate of the 2008 Presidential cycle on Thursday April 26th 2007 at 7:00Pm. The Democratic Presidential candidates debate will be produced by NBC News and hosted by SC State. All the major Democratic candidates for president are invited to attend.
MSNBC will carry exclusive live coverage of the South Carolina Democratic Party's presidential primary debate on April 26, 2007 live on MSNBC from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (ET) and streamed live on MSNBC.com. South Carolina NBC affiliates WIS-TV in Columbia; WYFF-TV in Greenville and WCBD-TV in Charleston will join MSNBC in airing the debate. MSNBC's signature political program, "Hardball with Chris Matthews," will air live from South Carolina State University at 5:00 pm (ET) with key interviews and analysis in anticipation of the debate. The network will also air comprehensive analysis of the debate upon its conclusion.
“What better way to celebrate South Carolina and our second-in-the-nation first-in-the South Presidential Primary than with the first Presidential debate at the alma mater of our own Jim Clyburn, Majority Whip of the US House of Representatives,” said South Carolina State Democratic Party Chair Joe Erwin. “Having worked closely with the top-notch NBC News team in 2004 for Presidential primary and debate, we know just what kinds of results they can produce when it comes for viewer ship, voter education and voter participation. Democratic candidates can rest assured that their campaign messages will be heard by millions of South Carolina voters and NBC viewers across the country.
“The NBC News/South Carolina Democratic Party Debate at SC State not only presents an incredible opportunity for the talented field of Democratic candidates running for President to make their case to the voters of South Carolina, but it presents an amazing opportunity for every citizen of this state to have South Carolina issues, values and voices front and center in the national spotlight,” said House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.
“I fully expect that the leading Democrats who are considering a run for the Presidency, will not miss this opportunity to travel to Orangeburg and meet the terrific students, faculty and staff of SC State for this historic occasion,” Clyburn continued. “ I am so touched by Chairman Erwin’s efforts to bring this debate to my Alma Mater and his commitment along with the talented team at NBC News to making it heard across the state and across the nation.”
"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to be the home of the first debate of the 2008 presidential campaign," said NBC News President Steve Capus. "NBC News is uniquely positioned to bring an event like this to the nation with the number one morning and evening newscasts, the number one Sunday public affairs program, MSNBC's unparalleled commitment to extensive political coverage on cable and the leading news and information web site, msnbc.com."
