SC GOP aims to draw presidential candidates for Palmetto State’s version of CPAC
South Carolina Republicans in December may have an another opportunity to hear from White House hopefuls at an event organizers have emulated after one of the most popular and prominent conservative gatherings in the nation.
The South Carolina Republican Party will bring its second “First in the South Republican Action Conference” back to Myrtle Beach in an event expected to be at least twice the size as its 2021 debut.
Organizers plan to have at least seven spots for White House hopefuls to speak in front of a crowd of party donors, county party activists, county chairs and people following the presidential campaign closely in the early primary state.
The conference, which will serve as an opportunity for presidential candidates to speak in front of a group of primary voters in a state that holds the First in the South presidential primary, is scheduled to for the Dec. 7-10.
The event will include include training sessions on county party organization, running campaigns, door-to-door efforts, using social media and dealing with news media. It is modeled after the annual Conservative Political Action Conference where attendees hear from potential presidential hopefuls and have training sessions.
The South Carolina conference also will serve as a fundraiser for the party for its efforts during next year’s state House and state Senate elections.
“We’re excited to put it on and to host it because it will be great training for our activists as we get ready to head into an election season, a great opportunity for our candidates to speak to our activists, and a great opportunity for the party to raise money to beat Democrats next year,” said S.C. GOP Chairman Drew McKissick.
State Republicans last held their action conference in 2021 in Myrtle Beach. It attracted about 400 attendees and had speakers including U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Rick Scott, and former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.
Organizers this year expect to have about 800 people attend.
These types of conferences serve as platform for White House hopefuls to meet voters and activists who can advocate for candidates.
A Palmetto Family Council Vision ‘24 conference in March attracted Tim Scott, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who are all seeking the White House.
The S.C. GOP’s conference will take place after a fourth Republican presidential debate and two-and-a-half months before South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary, which could put the winner in the driver’s seat toward the national Republican nomination.
McKissick expects at least eight candidates to still be in the race at the time of the conference and to have paid the $50,000 filing fee to get on the South Carolina primary ballot.
For hopefuls to be taken seriously, candidates will need to file in South Carolina by the Oct. 31 deadline.
“If they want to look like they’re serious candidates here in South Carolina, they need to get filed pretty quick,” McKissick said. “If you haven’t filed in South Carolina, then it looks like you’re very unserious about running for president.”
Since 1980, every winner of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary has gone on to win the nomination, with the exception of 2012 when Mitt Romney was the nominee, but Newt Gingrich won the state’s GOP primary.
“South Carolina’s gonna be do or die for these guys, because once they leave here, they’re wide open all across the country,” McKissick said. “This is your last stop at the one-state-at-a-time rodeo to make your case in a place where you can get around fairly easily, you can get on TV fairly less expensively than other states, and get your message out in an easier way to have your focus in one place, before you’ve got to be up in eight or 10 or 12 states at one time. ... I think it’s probably safe to say after our primary is over here, half the field will probably clear out.”
To attend
The 2023 First in the South Republican Action Conference
When: Dec. 7-10
Where: Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort at 10000 Beach Club Drive
The cost (until Nov. 1):
S.C. GOP Elephant Club members: $350
Non-Elephant Club members: $425
One-day pass: $175
The cost includes attending conference training sessions and meals.
