SC GOP counters Democratic debate with demonstration across the street
While seven Democratic candidates prepared to debate inside the Gaillard Center, outside the debate hall, Democratic supporters chanted words of encouragement:
“Fired Up ready for Joe!”
“What do we want? Medicare for All! When do we want it? Now!”
“President Pete!”
At times supporters of former Vice President Joe Biden danced around a drummer to music. But they were eventually countered across the street by about 25 Donald Trump supporters chanting “Four More Years!”
“We’ll run against whichever one they nominate happily, but we’re looking forward to asking every swing district Democrat whether they support Bernie Sanders’ extreme record,” said S.C. GOP spokesman Joe Jackson referring to the current front runner in the Democratic race.
During the day leading up to the debate, Republicans had digital billboards around Charleston touting the economy in South Carolina, low unemployment and criminal justice reform.
Miguel Munoz, 61, of Summerville, a retired businessman originally from Puerto Rico, proudly wore his “Make America Great Again” hat outside of the debate hall.
He won’t be voting on Saturday, even though the state has open primaries and Republicans don’t have a primary of their own. There has been a movement by some Tea Party groups calling for Republicans to meddle in the Democratic primary.
“I want to be fair. Let them bring their best. We’ll work it out at the ballot (box) on Nov. 3,” Munoz said.
Meddling in the open primaries could hurt in the long run, “because they could do the same thing to us,” Munoz said.
Dorian Bucholz, 73, of West Ashley, held a sign that said “Free Market, No to Socialism.”
“The less government we have, the better off we are,” Bucholz said. With “more government, they just want to rule your life. That’s not what the Constitution is all about.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 10:02 PM.
