GOP presidential hopefuls campaigning in SC this week

Several 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls have Palmetto State visits coming up, including announced candidates Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.

On Tuesday, Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, will join Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-Charleston, for neighborhood office hours at 3:45 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market located at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant.

Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard chief executive, will speak Wednesday in Columbia at a S.C. House Republican Caucus luncheon. The event at the Hilton Columbia Center event starts at 12:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Paul has announced four public campaign stops in the Upstate on Friday.

Paul will attend a York County GOP barbecue at 1 p.m. at the Palmetto Room at 150 East White St. in Rock Hill. He then heads to Spartanburg for a 3:30 p.m. meet-and-greet at the Beacon Drive-In restaurant.

Paul will attend two events in Greenville. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, he will visit with the Greenville GOP, at the party headquarters, 850 Wade Hampton Blvd., before attending a 7 p.m. event at Connolly’s Irish Pub, 24 East Court St.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is considering a run, is speaking to the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in Charleston on Wednesday, according to media reports.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to visit the Palmetto State shortly after he formally enters the race June 4 in Dallas.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee visited Columbia on Thursday as part of his bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, will make his White House bid official June 1 in Central where he grew up.

Two days later, Graham will be the special guest at the Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security national security forum in New Hampshire, which like South Carolina is another early presidential primary state.

Staff writer Andrew Shain contributed

This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "GOP presidential hopefuls campaigning in SC this week."