SCGOP News « SCHotline Press Releases

SC retains historic First-in-the-South GOP presidential primary status

Posted in Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on April 2nd, 2008

		Chairman’s Action Alert!

SC retains historic First-in-the-South GOP presidential primary status

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 along side 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.

Click here to support the South Carolina Republican Party!

Tagged with: Katon Dawson, News, Politics, SC retains historic First-in-the-South GOP presidential, SCGOP

1 comment

South Carolina Republicans field full slate of candidates

Posted in Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on March 30th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: ROB GODFREY

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 , 2008 (803) 988-8440

SCGOP Chairman says Republicans will be united, stronger than ever

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Republican Party today announced a full slate of candidates for United States House of Representatives for the third consecutive election cycle and announced Republican candidates for the office of Solicitor in all but one judicial circuit on the ballot. United States Senator Lindsey Graham and Buddy Witherspoon filed as candidates in the Republican primary for United States Senate.

“Republicans in South Carolina today took a big step towards victory,” said South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson. “South Carolina Democrats are proving themselves to be long on rhetoric and short on real solutions just like their party leaders Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – two of the U.S. Senate’s most liberal members. With John McCain at the top of our ticket and a full slate of terrific Republican candidates, we will be stronger and more united than ever heading into November’s general election.”

The following Republicans filed as candidates for office:

United States Senate

Lindsey Graham

Buddy Witherspoon

United States House of Representatives

Henry E. Brown, Jr. (District 1)

Katherine Jenerette (District 1)

Paul V. Norris (District 1)

Phil Black (District 2)

Joe Wilson (District 2)

J. Gresham Barrett (District 3)

Bob Inglis (District 4)

Charles Jeter (District 4)

Albert F. Spencer (District 5)

Nancy Harrelson (District 6)

Solicitor

Benjy Lafond (Circuit 1)

Strom Thurmond, Jr. (Circuit 2)

Trey Gowdy (Circuit 7)

Jerry W. Peace (Circuit

Blair Jennings (Circuit 9)

Scarlett A. Wilson (Circuit 9)

Chrissy Adams (Circuit 10)

Sarah Drawdy (Circuit 10)

Donald V. Myers (Circuit 11)

Duffie Stone (Circuit 14)

Kevin Brackett (Circuit 16)

South Carolina Primary Election day is Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

-###-

Tagged with: field full slate of candidates, Politics, Republicans, South Carolina

2 comments

Dawson petitions Clyburn & Spratt on anti-terror legislation

Posted in SCGOP News by schotline on March 2nd, 2008

Dawson petitions Clyburn & Spratt on anti-terror legislation

SCGOP Chairman says Democrats reckless

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today announced a petition drive to encourage South Carolina Democrats Jim Clyburn and John Spratt to support bi-partisan anti-terror legislation passed by the U.S. Senate. Clyburn and Spratt, high-ranking leaders in the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, are blocking passage of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) modernization that would give law enforcement officials the authority and capability to monitor dangerous terrorists.

“Jim Clyburn and John Spratt have demonstrated reckless disregard for our safety and security by blocking common-sense legislation aimed at preventing terrorist attacks,” said Dawson. “Each day they continue to block this legislation is another day terrorists are free to plan attacks on our families and communities. Their actions constitute a breech of the public trust, and I call on South Carolinians to hold them accountable.”

Dawson’s petition provides South Carolinians with an opportunity to express their support for equipping intelligence officials fighting on the front lines of the war on terror with the tools they need to thwart terrorists attacks.

President George W. Bush three times this week implored Democrats in the U.S. House to pass FISA modernization which is supported by 68 members of the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate. Today, the Charleston Post & Courier called failure to pass FISA modernization “highly irresponsible” (Charleston Post & Courier Editorial, 2/29/2008).

For more information about Dawson’s petition, click http://www.scgop.com/GetActive/Petition.aspx.

-###-

1 comment

Event: Super Tuesday Election Party And Thank You Party For SC McCain Supporters and Volunteers

Posted in Event, John McCain, Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on February 1st, 2008

Attorney General Henry McMaster

Invites you to a

Super Tuesday Election Party And Thank You Party For SC McCain Supporters and Volunteers

Tuesday February 5th

7 PM-Until

Sponsored by Rick Quinn at the Back Porch Cafe

1600 Gervais Street

Columbia, SC

FREE FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS!

RSVP: <mailto:Henry@HenryMcMaster.com> Henry@HenryMcMaster.com or 803-799-8638

Trey Walker

803-206-0847

treywalker01@aol.com <mailto:twalker@mccain08hq.com>

Tagged with: And Thank You Party, Event: Super Tuesday Election Party, For SC McCain Supporters and Volunteers

no comments yet

SCGOP announces Jay W. Ragley as Executive Director, Hogan Gidley as head of presidential task force

Posted in Katon Dawson, Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on December 17th, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: ROB GODFREY

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007 (803) 988-8440

Chairman Katon Dawson welcomes back former Political Director, taps Gidley to run debate

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today officially announced Jay W. Ragley as the Party’s new Executive Director. Ragley, who served as Political Director from 2003-2006, takes over for Hogan Gidley.

“We are thrilled to have Jay W. back on our team,” said Dawson. “He is an experienced political professional whose grassroots, organizational and communications expertise will help us ensure victory in 2008.”

Ragley will manage day-to-day operations of the Party, develop strategy and expand grassroots networks. He was South Carolina State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) from 2006-2007. Ragley is a former Legislative Assistant to Congressman J. Gresham Barrett and graduated from Clemson University with an economics degree in 2002.

“I am honored to once again have the opportunity to serve Chairman Dawson and Republicans across South Carolina at the most successful state Republican Party in the country,” said Ragley.

Dawson tapped Hogan Gidley as the new Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party Presidential Primary Task Force. Gidley will plan the 2008 South Carolina Republican Party Presidential Candidates Debate scheduled for Thursday, January 10, 2008, in Myrtle Beach. Gidley previously served as the Party’s Executive Director.

“We are excited to have Hogan planning our historic debate,” said Dawson. “He has truly been an asset to our Party, he has worked hard to organize our First-in-the-South Republican Presidential Primary, and he has helped us achieve great success.”

-###-

Tagged with: Executive Director, Hogan Gidley, Jay W. Ragley, Politics, presidential task force, SCGOP, South Carolina

no comments yet

SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson statement on New Hampshire primary date

Posted in Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on November 21st, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: ROB GODFREY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 (803) 807-7144 (MOBILE)

Dawson respects New Hampshire First-in-Nation status, touts South Carolina’s First-in-the-South role

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today released the following statement regarding New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner’s press conference at which Gardner announced New Hampshire’s Tuesday, January 8, 2008 presidential primary date:

“ The stakes couldn’t be higher this election, and we are proud to hold the First-in-the-South Republican Party Presidential Primary in January,” said Dawson. “We have great respect for New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation presidential primary status. South Carolina shares a combined 83-year history with New Hampshire of our two states being First-In-The-Nation and First-In-The-South in presidential primary politics. In our two states, presidential politics is about much more than 30-second television ads and clever sound bytes. 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.”

Dawson traveled to Concord, New Hampshire, on Thursday, August 9, 2007, where he 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, Dawson hand delivered a letter to New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, notifying him of the primary date.

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.

-###-

no comments yet

Dawson: Democrats have failed the American people

Posted in Katon Dawson, Press Release, SCGOP News by schotline on October 30th, 2007

image001.jpg@01C8100C.78FDF3A0

SCGOP Chairman says Democrats were never prepared to lead

COLUMBIA, S.C. – President George W. Bush today told the American people, “Congress is not getting its work done.” The President addressed the American people from the White House after meeting with the Republican leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives.

South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today released the following statement on the failure of the Democrat-led Congress:

“When Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Jim Clyburn, John Spratt and the Washington Democrats took control of Congress in January, they assured the American people they were ‘ready to lead.’ But just 10 months later, their empty rhetoric of reform has resulted in a regrettable record of failure.

“Democrat inaction has left our troops without the resources they need to win the war on terror, and our children have been left without the tools they need to grow up healthy in safe homes and schools . Clearly, the Democrats were never ‘ready to lead,’ and there’s no doubt that the Democrats’ abysmal record of failure will result in buyers’ remorse for American voters in 2008.”