Mike Huckabee coming to Tim Scott town hall in July

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott will hold a town hall with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, in Anderson next month.

U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-Spartanburg, will be a guest at the July 6 event at the Anderson Civic Center.

The Huckabee event is the first of what Scott, R-North Charleston, is calling Tim’s Town Halls.

“Tim’s Town Halls provide the opportunity for South Carolinians to look candidates in the eye, shake their hand, and make a choice free of polls or that week’s hot name in the media,” a news release from Scott’s campaign said.

More town halls with 2016 candidates are planned.

The influence of Scott, a popular politician in South Carolina, is growing as candidates work to win key backing in the early presidential primary state.

This story was originally published June 4, 2015 at 2:25 PM.