FIRST ON BUZZ: Trump, Carson, Bush headline 11 GOP hopefuls at S.C. presidential forum

Eleven 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls, including current front-runners Donald Trump and Ben Carson, will attend a forum Friday in Greenville, organizers said.

Heritage Action’s “Take Back America” forum at Bon Secours Wellness Arena will be co-hosted by Gov. Nikki Haley and former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. DeMint runs Heritage America’s sister group, the Heritage Foundation.

In addition to Trump, a New York business mogul, and Carson, a retired Maryland neurosurgeon, others coming to the forum are: former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida; Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Scott Walker of Wisconsin; former chief executive Carly Fiorina; and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were invited but are not attending. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry accepted an invitation but dropped out of the race Friday.

Three candidates who did not receive 1 percent of support in August national polls, including U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of Seneca, were not invited by organizers.

Heritage Action chief Michael Needham and his group’s top conservative activists will ask the candidates questions in addition to Haley, a Lexington Republican whose endorsement is coveted by GOP hopefuls.

The event, expected to draw more than 10,000, will put Haley on the same stage with Trump, whom she has criticized for his combative tone in the campaign.

Haley also has called Trump a friend. Trump has given $7,000 to Haley’s two gubernatorial runs and $5,000 to a political group with ties to the governor.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 4:40 PM.