South Carolina Retains Historic First-in-the-South GOP Presidential Primary Status

Written by Press Release

Apr 09, 2008 at 12:00 AM

SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson thanks RNC for reaffirming primary prowess   COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Republican Party  Chairman Katon Dawson announced that South Carolina's Republican Party Presidential Primary will remain First-in-the-South.   Earlier today, the Standing Committee on Rules of the Republican National Committee approved a plan to bring order to the presidential primary calendar.  Dawson has fought to keep South Carolina's Republican presidential primary First-in-the-South throughout his tenure as State Republican Chairman. "Today, I want to thank the RNC Rules Committee for recognizing South Carolina's historically important role in the presidential primary process," said Dawson.  "We are proud to take our place alongside the most important presidential primary contests in the country.  Senator John McCain won a monumental victory in our primary this year and was propelled to our Party's nomination for president.  We are pleased we will continue to play this make-or-break role in presidential politics 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 knew South Carolina Republicans pick presidents and focused on the state's voters this year more than ever.