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South Carolina


Visits by Potential Republican Candidates
From Election Day 2008 through Election Day, November 2, 2010, 10 potential candidates made 29 visits totaling 38 days.  (Note this does not include the longshot prospect Herman Cain). 

BARBOUR
GINGRICH
HUCKABEE
JOHNSON
PALIN
PAUL
PAWLENTY
PENCE
ROMNEY
SANTORUM
Visits: 29
1
5
6
3
1
1
1
2
4
6
Days: 38
1
5
7
3
1
1
2
3
5
11
longshots not included in total:
>Herman Cain held fundraising reception for his Hermantor PAC at Tristan in Charleston, SC on the evening of October 8, 2010.


>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker at a "Count Down to Victory Rally" hosted by State House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham and HD 69 candidate Rick Quinn at the old New Orleans Riverfront restaurant (on Alexander Street) in West Columbia, SC on October 30, 2010.

>Former Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke at a rally at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC on the evening of October 28, 2010 as part of American Solutions' "Jobs Here, Jobs Now" tour.

>Former Gov. Mitt Romney campaigned in SC on October 27-28, 2010.  On the evening of October 27 he headlined a rally and reception forMick Mulvaney at the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek in Rock Hill.  On October 28 he joined gubernatorial nominee state Rep. Nikki Haley for several stops on her 26-stop "Join the Movement" bus tour; they made a stop at the Fire Water Grill in Summerville; and in Haley's hometown of Bamberg they made an impromptu stop at the Piggly Wiggly supermarket and a stop at Floyd and Dot's restaurant.

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on October 27-28, 2010 On the evening of October 27 he attended a rally with gubernatorial nominee state Rep. Nikki Haley, state party chair Karen Floyd and 1st CD nominee Tim Scott at the Lowcountry Victory office on Northwoods Blvd in North Charleston.  On October 28 in Greenville he attended a breakfast honoring SC Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers at the Poinsett Club; attended a reception in support of state treasurer nominee Curtis Loftis at the Nexsen Pruet Law Firm; and was the guest speaker at a Greenville County Republican Women's Club fundraising luncheon at the Carolina First Center.

>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker at a fundraising banquet for the Taylors Free Medical Clinic held at Timmons Arena at Furman University in Greenville, SC on the evening of September 28, 2010.

>
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich participated in a fundraiser for Mick Mulvaney at the Palmetto Club in Columbia, SC on September 17, 2010.

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on September 15, 2010.  He attended a reception and breakfast for state House candidate Peter McCoy at Tristan Restaurant in Charleston; attended a fundraising luncheon in support of Alan Wilson for Attorney General at Doc's BBQ in Columbia; and attended a meet and greet in support of congressional candidate Trey Gowdy at the Poinsett Club in Greenville.

>Former Gov. Gary Johnson held a meet and greet luncheon at the Radisson on Bush River Road in Columbia, SC on August 18, 2010.

>Former Speaker Newt Gingrich visited SC on July 9, 2010.  He appeared at a luncheon fundraiser for the state party at The Hall at Senate’s End in Columbia; and in the afternoon attended a fundraiser for 1st CD congressional nominee Tim Scott at Tristan restaurant in Charleston.

>Gov. Tim Pawlenty visited SC on June 29-30, 2010, a rescheduling of the trip originally planned for May 7-8.  On the evening of June 29 he appeared at a fundraising reception for the South Carolina Republican Party at the home of party chairman Karen Floyd in Spartanburg.  On June 30 he was the special guest at a breakfast reception for congressional candidate Mick Mulvaney at the Magnolia Room (on Laurel Creek Drive) in Rock Hill.

>Former Gov. Mitt Romney and wife Ann campaigned with gubernatorial candidate state Rep. Nikki Haley in SC on
June 18, 2010 just days in advance of the June 22 runoff.  They joined Haley at a forum on Lowcountry politics and communication at the College of Charleston's Randolph Hall in Charleston; and joined her for a fundraising luncheon at Hilton Head Plantation on Hilton Head Island.

>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee held a press conference with gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov.
André Bauer at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, SC on the morning of June 3, 2010.  This was less than a week before the June 8 primary and Bauer was on day one of his "46 Counties in 4 Days" tour.


>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on May 21-22, 2010. On May 21 he campaigned with gubernatorial candidate Rep. Gresham Barrett at a meet and greet at 2319 Seabrook Island in Seabrook Island (Charleston area). On May 22 he keynoted the Dorchester County Republican Breakfast at The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation in Summerville; joined congressional candidate Mike Mulvaney (challenging Rep. John Spratt in SC-5) at a meet and greet reception at the home of Chad and Dana Connelly in Prosperity; and was the keynote speaker at the Greenville County Republican Party's Bronze Elephant Dinner at the Carolina First Center in Greenville.

>Rep. Mike Pence hosted a fundraiser for Rep. Joe Wilson at the home of John and Marcie Baker in Elgin (Columbia area), SC
on May 21, 2010.

>Former Gov. Sarah Palin rallied with gubernatorial candidate state Rep. Nikki Haley at the State House in Columbia, SC
on May 14, 2010.

[Gov. Tim Pawlenty had scheduled a two-day trip to SC on May 7-8, 2010, including a reception for the South Carolina Republican Party on May 7 and breakfast reception with congressional candidate Rep. Mick Mulvaney at the City Club in Rock Hill on May 8; he canceled due to budget difficulties in Minnesota].

>On May 5, 2010 former Speaker Newt Gingrich held an American Solutions for Winning the Future "Real Jobs Summit" at the Greenville Hilton in Greenville, SC.

>Former Gov. Gary Johnson visited SC on May 4, 2010. He had lunch with Gov. Mark Sanford at his home; and spoke at a meeting of the Bastiat Society in Charleston.

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on April 19-20, 2010. On April 19 he joined Rep. Gresham Barrett at a roundtable event at North Charleston City Hall in North Charleston; delivered a foreign policy speech at The Citadel in Charleston; and joined Barrett for a news conference on small businesses at Aura Lee's Handbags, Jewelry & Accessories in Summerville. On April 20 he joined Barrett for a meet and greet at Boulevard Diner in Mt. Pleasant.

>Former Gov. Gary Johnson attended an Upcountry Tea Party at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, SC on April 17, 2010.

>As part of his book tour for No Apology, former Gov. Mitt Romney spoke and signed copies of the book at Mark Clark Hall at The Citadel in Charleston, SC on April 1, 2010.

>Gov. Haley Barbour keynoted the Spartanburg County Republican Party's annual President's Day dinner at the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park in Spartanburg, SC on the evening of March 15, 2010.

>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee headlined a luncheon fundraiser for congressional candidate state Rep. Rex Rice at Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC on February 18, 2010.

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on January 8-9, 2010. On the evening of January 8 he spoke at Awakening, a conservative forum, at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. On January 9 he spoke at a fundraiser for the South Carolina Republican Party at XX in Charleston.

2009
>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on December 8-9, 2009 to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Rep. Gresham Barrett. On December 8 he and Barrett attended a meet and greet at the home of Beaufort County Councilman Jerry Stewart in Sun City-Bluffton (Hilton Head area). On December 9 he and Barrett did a meet and greet at the Cotton Factory in Rock Hill; met with lunchtime diners at the Sugar and Spice Drive-in in Spartanburg; and spoke to students at students at Spartanburg Christian Academy.

>As part of his book tour for A Simple Christmas, former Gov. Mike Huckabee made two SC stops. He appeared at the Costco in Greenville; and at the Sam's Club in Spartanburg on mid-afternoon and evening of November 13, 2010.

>Rep. Ron Paul delivered a lecture on “The Politics of Tolerance” at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC on the evening of November 9, 2009.

>As reported by Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, former Gov. Mitt Romney was the special guest at a fundraiser for Sen. Jim DeMint at the home of Sheila and Bill Prezzano in Charleston, SC on October 26, 2009.

>Rep. Mike Pence visited SC on October 12-13, 2009. On October 12 he attended a fundraising event for Rep. Gresham Barrett at a restaurant in Charleston; attended the Charleston County Republican Committee's executive committee meeting at North Charleston City Hall; and met with party activists in Charleston. On October 13 he attended a fundraising event for Rep. Henry Brown Jr. at Virginia’s on King (upstairs) in Charleston.

>Former Speaker Newt Gingrich held a Center for Health Transformation conference on "Creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System in South Carolina" at the Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, SC on May 21, 2009.

2008

>As part of his book tour for Do the Right Thing, former Gov. Mike Huckabee made five stops in SC on December 5-6, 2008. On December 5 he appeared at the Costco in Greenville; and the Sam's Club in Spartanburg. On December 6 he appeared at Books A Million Manchester Village in Rock Hill; the Walmart Supercenter in Aiken; and the Books A Million Harbison Shopping Center in Columbia.



Other Visits
>Vice President Joe Biden visited Columbia, SC on July 23, 2010.  He was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library at the University of South Carolina; and attended a fundraiser for Rep. John Spratt at the South Carolina State Museum.