Dawson announces First-in-the-South Presidential Primary Date in New Hampshire
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today announced the First-in-the-South Republican Party Presidential Primary will be held in South Carolina on Saturday, January 19, 2008. In the Executive Council Chambers of the New Hampshire State House in Concord, Dawson hand delivered a letter to New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, notifying him of the primary date.
“The stakes couldn't be higher in this election,” said Dawson. “I am proud to be here in New Hampshire to announce our primary date and to solidify a combined 83-year history of our two states being First-In-The-Nation and First-In-The-South – this election cycle and for years to come.”
The South Carolina Republican Party’s First-In-The-South Presidential Primary has grown in significance over time. Since 1980, no candidate has won the Republican nomination for president without winning South Carolina’s Republican primary. Republicans running for president in 2008 know South Carolina Republicans pick presidents and have already begun to focus on the state’s voters more than ever.
“In our two states, presidential politics is about much more than 30-second television ads and clever sound bytes,” said Dawson. “New Hampshire and South Carolina voters are lucky enough to meet the candidates face-to-face and actually get to know the next President of the United States. All the candidates campaign hard across our two states because they know they must come shake our hands and look us square in the eye if they want our votes.”
