South Carolina attracting Republican hopefuls
{{date|August 20, 2006}}

2008 [[w:Republican party (United States)|Republican]] presidential hopefuls are spending a lot of time in [[w:South Carolina|South Carolina]]  in the run-up to the 2006 off-year elections. All the interest in the Palmetto State is widely viewed in the light of its place of significance in the GOP's primary calendar. 

[[John McCain|Sen. John McCain]] (R-AZ) leads in most early polls.  And he also leads in the pack in handing out campaign contributions to down-ticket Republican hopefuls.  Since the beginning of the year, Sen. McCain's Straight Talk America PAC has contributed $172,750 to South Carolina Republican candidates, according to campaign finance reports.  In contrast, Massachusetts Governor [[w:Mitt Romney|Mitt Romney]] has contributed roughly $73,000 during the same period. 

McCain has also picked up some influential support recently.  Former State 
Attorney General Charlie Condon, veteran consultant Bob McAlister and 
current Attorney General Henry McMaster have all assumed leadership roles in McCain's Straight Talk America PAC.  McCain was in South Carolina this week to raise money for Republican Adjutant General Stan Spears, who is running for reelection. 

Former New York Mayor [[w:Rudy Giuliani|Rudy Giuliani]] also visited South Carolina this week. Mayor Giuliani headlined a fundraising dinner for the state Republican Party. While Giuliani focused his speech on the War on Terror, some were more interested in the New Yorker's position on social issues. 

Conservative reporter Byron York, who attended the event, quotes Palmetto 
Family Council President Oran Smith saying, "Gay rights, abortion, guns 
[Giuliani is pro-gun control] ... any one of them would be a disqualifier, but the three of them together are absolutely insurmountable." 

Representatives from McCain, Romney, and Giuliani's camp all say their man 
is still deciding whether or not he will run for president in 2008. 

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=stateregion&tableId=103100&pubDate=8/18/2006 
|title=McCain marshaling S.C. forces
|author=Jim Davenport
|pub=Charleston Post and Courier
|date=August 18, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.fox21.com/Global/story.asp?S=5291173&nav=2KPp
|title=New York makes political visit to South Carolina
|author=Fox Carolina
|pub=Fox Carolina
|date=August 18, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=stateregion&tableId=103101&pubDate=8/18/2006
|title=National PACs fund state races
|author=Jim Davenport
|pub=Charleston Post and Currier
|date=August 18, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2U4YWNhZTI3OGUwYWFlNTI0YWZlMDE0YjYzYmYyNGY=
|title=Can Giuliani Win a Southern GOP?
|author=Byron York
|pub=National Review Online
|date=August 17, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:John McCain]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:LGBT]]
[[Category:Abortion]]
[[Category:Gun politics]]
2008 Republican presidential hopefuls are spending a lot of time in South Carolina  in the run-up to the 2006 off-year elections. All the interest in the Palmetto State is widely viewed in the light of its place of significance in the GOP's primary calendar. 

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) leads in most early polls.  And he also leads in the pack in handing out campaign contributions to down-ticket Republican hopefuls.  Since the beginning of the year, Sen. McCain's Straight Talk America PAC has contributed $172,750 to South Carolina Republican candidates, according to campaign finance reports.  In contrast, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has contributed roughly $73,000 during the same period. 

McCain has also picked up some influential support recently.  Former State 
Attorney General Charlie Condon, veteran consultant Bob McAlister and 
current Attorney General Henry McMaster have all assumed leadership roles in McCain's Straight Talk America PAC.  McCain was in South Carolina this week to raise money for Republican Adjutant General Stan Spears, who is running for reelection. 

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also visited South Carolina this week. Mayor Giuliani headlined a fundraising dinner for the state Republican Party. While Giuliani focused his speech on the War on Terror, some were more interested in the New Yorker's position on social issues. 

Conservative reporter Byron York, who attended the event, quotes Palmetto 
Family Council President Oran Smith saying, "Gay rights, abortion, guns 
Giuliani is pro-gun control ... any one of them would be a disqualifier, but the three of them together are absolutely insurmountable." 

Representatives from McCain, Romney, and Giuliani's camp all say their man 
is still deciding whether or not he will run for president in 2008. 

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Politics and conflicts United States North America John McCain Republican Party (United States) LGBT Abortion Gun politics