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October 15, 2015

SCDP Announces New Location and Ticketing Information for the First in the South Candidates Forum

Columbia, SC – Today, the South Carolina Democratic Party announced the following updates for the First in the South Candidates Forum. The First in the South Candidates Forum moderated by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Friday, November 6 will now take place at Winthrop University's Byrnes Auditorium.
 
The Byrnes Auditorium was selected to better highlight the University's main campus and to provide a more welcoming environment for Forum guests.
 
Tickets for the First in the South event are now free and available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis starting tomorrow, Friday, October 16 at 9 a.m.
 
"Thanks, in part, to a generous contribution from Congressman Clyburn, we are able to offer the forum to voters wanting to hear from our Democratic candidates on how they plan to strengthen the middle class, keep our country moving forward, and make sure everyone has an opportunity to succeed, said SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison.
 
"It’s clear from Tuesday's debate there’s only one Party that’s serious about raising the minimum wage, creating good-paying jobs, making college more affordable, and expanding access to affordable health care: the Democratic Party," he added.
 
Media interested in covering the event can RSVP at firstinthesouth.com/media.
For more information on the Democratic Presidential Primary in South Carolina visit: www.FirstInTheSouth.com

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October 10, 2015 

SCDP Announces Ticketing Information for the First in the South Candidates Forum 

Columbia, SC – Today, the South Carolina Democratic Party announced ticketing information for the First in the South Presidential Candidates Forum moderated by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Friday, November 6 at Winthrop University's Winthrop Coliseum.
 
Tickets for the First in the South Candidates Forum will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 16. Tickets will be $25 and available through the SCDP website. Members of the public interested in purchasing tickets can sign up to receive a link at scdp.org/take-action
 
"We're thrilled to provide an opportunity for the Democratic Presidential candidates to speak to South Carolina voters and voters all across the South," said SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison. "This forum will allow candidates to share their visions for our country, speak to southern specific issues and concerns, and show that Democrats are focused on giving working and middle class families an opportunity to succeed."
 
In addition to the South Carolina Democratic Party and Congressman James E. Clyburn, the DNC's Southern Regional Caucus and the following Southern State Democratic Parties will serve as cohosts: 
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
 
Media interested in covering the event can RSVP at firstinthesouth.com/media.
For more information on the Democratic Presidential Primary in South Carolina visit: www.FirstInTheSouth.com
 
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October 7, 2015

SCDP Announces Democratic Presidential Candidates Attending the First in the South Candidates Forum

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow to Moderate Forum

Columbia, SC – Today, The South Carolina Democratic Party announced the following candidates will attend the First in the South Presidential Candidates Forum moderated by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Friday, November 6 at Winthrop University's Winthrop Coliseum:
 
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Former Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley 
Senator Bernie Sanders 
 
All of the Democratic presidential candidates were invited to attend. (Should Vice President Joe Biden announce his candidacy before November 6th, he will also be invited to attend the Forum.)
 
In addition to the South Carolina Democratic Party and Congressman James E. Clyburn, the DNC's Southern Regional Caucus and the following Southern State Democratic Parties will serve as cohosts: 
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
"We're thrilled to provide an opportunity for the Democratic Presidential candidates to speak to South Carolina voters and voters all across the South," said SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison. "This forum will allow candidates to share their visions for our country, speak to southern specific issues and concerns, and show that Democrats are focused on giving working and middle class families an opportunity to succeed."
 
"As the place for politics, we at MSNBC are looking forward to bringing this forum to a national audience," said MSNBC President Phil Griffin.  "And, with Rachel Maddow leading the night, it’s guaranteed to be a lively and insightful conversation with each candidate."
For more information on the Democratic Presidential Primary in South Carolina visit: www.FirstInTheSouth.com
 
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September 18, 2015

South Carolina Democratic Party and Congressman James E. Clyburn to Host Presidential Candidates Forum Nov. 6

Event to Air on MSNBC

Columbia, SC – Today, The South Carolina Democratic Party and Congressman James E. Clyburn announced plans to host a forum for Democratic Presidential Primary candidates November 6 at Winthrop University ahead of South Carolina’s First in the South Primary on February 27. MSNBC will serve as the official media partner for this event.

“We’re thrilled to provide an opportunity for candidates to speak to South Carolina voters,” said SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison. “This forum will allow candidates to share their visions for our country and show that Democrats are focused on giving working and middles class families an opportunity to succeed.”

“I often discuss the importance of South Carolina hosting the First in the South primary and adding a Presidential Forum to the calendar adds another component to the important discussion going on during this election cycle,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn. “This forum will give candidates an additional opportunity to focus on the issues that matter to voters in South Carolina and highlight the diversity of the Democratic Party.”

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz added “I’m thrilled that the South Carolina Democratic Party and Congressman Clyburn are hosting this important Democratic presidential candidate forum and that we were able to help.  This will be one of many opportunities to hear from our party’s candidates.  While Democrats are talking about strengthening the middle class and their plans to move the country forward, Republicans are promising to take us backward to the failed trickle down policies of the past.  Our candidates will continue to make that contrast clear in South Carolina.”

Additional details about times, locations, partnerships, and tickets will be announced soon.

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Democratic National Committee
November 6, 2015

DNC Chair on Tonight's Democratic Candidates Forum

“Tonight’s First in the South Democratic Candidates Forum on MSNBC was a breath of fresh air, with serious candidates showing respect for the American people and addressing voters like adults. On the same day we found out the economy added another 268,000 private-sector jobs during the month of October and that wages grew this month at the fastest pace since 2009, all three Democratic candidates showed they understand the link between national policies and the hard working people they affect. Simply put, Democrats are ready to govern, and that’s a stark contrast with a Republican field that blames media bias to distract from their lack of answers or serious proposals on, well, everything.” – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz


O'Malley for President
November 6, 2015

What People Are Saying about Martin O’Malley at the First in the South Democratic Candidates Forum

“Did Well Tonight”… “Sharp, Impassioned Answers” … “Helluva Progressive Record” … “Big Applause”… “Deserves More Attention” … “He Crushed Maddow 'Stunt Questions'” … “Freaking Awesome” … “On Fire Tonight” … “Clear He Should Be the Next President” … “Very Well Spoken and Compelling”... “Burned the Bern”... “Clean Message, Clear Vision” … “Trend Alert: 'Martin O'Malley'”

Arnie Arnesen @pchowder: #MartinOmalley
is knocking it out of the park-virtually every answer is thoughtful, smart and connects to a wide range of voters #nhpolitics

US Trenders @USTrenders: Trend Alert: 'Martin O'Malley'. More trends at trendinalia.com/twitter-trendi… #trndnl pic.twitter.com/zH0cId5C0k

Philip Rucker @PhilipRucker: O’Malley did pretty well tonight: Some tough questions, but he gave sharp, impassioned answers and drew contrasts with Clinton & Sanders.

Jeremy Borden @Jeremy_Borden: Big applause for @MartinOMalley comment on for-profit prisons.

Jennifer Epstein @jeneps: O'Malley Burned the Bern (h/t @kathykiely)

E McMorris-Santoro@EvanMcSan: @JuddLegum he's doing pretty well here

Jennifer Epstein  @jeneps: O'Malley getting very animated about Bush leading U.S. into Iraq and the ballooning debt

Peter Nicholas  @PeterNicholas3:
.@MartinOMalley likes Rachel Maddow's phrase "Getting things done." Repeats it a few times. His way of underscoring his executive experience

Peter Nicholas ‏@PeterNicholas3: @MartinOMalley channels Pope Francis in his speech to Congress, invoking Thomas Merton.

Michael Lewis  @michaeljlewis75: I think O'Malley has had a real strong start. Clear, concise answers to Maddow's questions.#DemDebate

Dan Merica  @danmericaCNN: O'Malley's first applause line: "We need to speak to the zeitgeist, that spirit in the young people in our country."

Ari Melber @AriMelber: O'Malley
says for profit prisons are "appalling, immoral," drawing applause, says America is about Statute of Liberty, not a wall ala Trump

Sam Frizell  @Sam_Frizell: "The
enduring symbol of our country is not the barbed wire fence it is the Statue of Liberty." -One of O'Malley's fav stump lines gets claps

E McMorris-Santoro  @EvanMcSan: O'Malley is coming out swinging at Hillary Clinton in South Carolina

Ken Thomas @KThomasDC: Probably the biggest jab O'Malley has taken against Sanders in a big venue.

Monica Alba @AlbaMonica: .@MartinOMalley having fun with those last few questions #MSNBC2016 #kilt

Alex Seitz-Wald  @aseitzwald: Headline of the night: Martin O'Malley owns a kilt.

Sam Frizell  @Sam_Frizell: YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT A LEGACY?? HERE'S A LEGACY

Trash God Isabel ‏@STlCKTOYOURGUNS: martin o'malley is currently trending. this is what i like to see

Nikki Levy @Nikki_Levy: No
denying @MartinOMalley has helluva progressive record in MD: Same-sex marriage, no capital punish., ban assault weapons, etc. #DemForum

Sara Ackerman @saramikaila: O'Malley freezed university education as Gov. I personally benefited from that. #Maddow #DemForum

Ken Finton @kenfinton:
Martin O'Malley finally gets heard thanks to Rachel Maddow's forum on MSNBC on right now. He is very well spoken and compelling

Sam @Samfrommaine: Martin O'Malley is really, really good in this format. #msnbc #DemForum

TRevSaidSo @TRevSaidSo: Martin O'Malley's candidacy is looking good in this forum. He's doing great. #DemForum

Raymond Vince @RayVince:
Gov. Martin O'Malley doing a great job on Dem. Forum on MSNBC with Rachel. Such a contrast with GOP. Not even got to Bernie & Hillary.

Brannon Bollinger @bwaredawolf: Wow...Martin O'Malley is killing it...MSNBC #DemocraticCandidatesForum

Game of Thornes @GeoffThorne:
Every time Martin O'Malley gets more than two seconds to talk, it's clear he should be the next president. Tell me why he shouldn't.

Lori Magno @ModaMags:
Props to Martin O'Malley - he crushed @maddow 'stunt questions' - "I reject the premise of you question!' #highspeedrail #msnbc

Josh Decker @guitarpianodude: Man. Martin O'Malley is freaking awesome! Seriously, I really enjoy listening to that man speak.

RB Blair @TuxcedoCat: Martin O'Malley did great. He should be a contender! Having opponents isn't a problem. Having opposition is. #DEMs debate.

John DesMarteau MD @John_DesMarteau: I bet you Martin O'Malley gets a little bump from his time on stage with Rachel Maddow in Rock Hill, SC.

Robert Recklein @RRecklein:
I really like @MartinOMalley. Really smart guy who accomplished a lot in office. He deserves more attention. #OMalley2016 #MSNBCDebate

Crystal Thomison @crystalthomison: Good responses from crowd with @MartinOMalley's statements. #FirstInTheSouth

Leah S. Cowan @leahcowan: @MartinOMalley mentions #climatechange, though briefly, in opening response. Hat tip.

Scott Madison @ATXScott: Truth is, @MartinOMalley got ALOT of great progressive things done as governor. #FirstInTheSouth #MSNBC2016 #maddow #DemForum

Lalita Amos, PsyD2B @LLAmos: Looking hard at Martin O'Malley. I'm not feeling the either/or, Sanders/Clinton dichotomy.

Zac Goldstein @ZLGoldstein: .@MartinOMalley is presenting himself as future generation of @TheDemocrats. #MSNBC2016

Steven @steven_brooklyn: Damn. @MartinOMalley is on fire tonight. #DemForum

Robert Recklein @RRecklein:
I really like @MartinOMalley. Really smart guy who accomplished a lot in office. He deserves more attention. #OMalley2016 #MSNBCDebate

Nick Sones  @NickSones: #OMalley killing it on @MSNBC right now… #OMalley2016 #newleadership

Brian Wahby ‏@bwahby: “..since we’re the party that actually believes in science“ #greatline @MartinOMalley

Anna Douglas @ADouglasHerald: Move to for-profit prisons in America is "appalling," O'Malley says. Crowd liked that here at Winthrop.

Kamgirl  @Kamgirl47: #DemForum I'm a Hillary supporter but I must say, I'm impressed with O'Malley. I really like his style. @MartinOMalley

Justin Gibson @JGibsonDem: .@MartinOMalley standing in contrast to both Clinton and Sanders: "I'm a lifelong Democrat." #MSNBC2016 #MaddowForum

K. Jackson, Director @marinewifechi: #MartinoMalley #MSNBC2016 is killing it! #POTUS @MartinOMalley @maddow

Dan Zak @MrDanZak: Martin O'Malley brought a Martin O'Malley to a knife fight.

Dub Leahy @dubleahy: This Martin O' Malley guy is pretty legit.

Lindsay Macchio @Lindsay4daWinsy: I think Martin O'Malley is a great candidate tbh

barry silverstein @barrybits: Martin O'Malley just rocked it in democratic forum! #DemForum #MSNBC2016 #RachelMaddow

Firestyle @FirestyleJutsu: Martin O'Malley was very impressive.  Clean message, clear vision

Kelly F @kelfitzy: Martin O'Malley is proving tonight why he should get a lot more coverage than he has been getting #DemocraticCandidatesForum

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Haley Morris

O'Malley for President
November 6, 2015

What People Are Saying about Martin O’Malley Powerful Performance Tonight

“Star Performance Tonight. Poised, Smart Wise” … “Hit His Stride” … “Only Individual Candidate to Trend” … “Came Off as Polished, Confident, and Authoritative”... “Breakthrough Moment” … “Found His Footing” … “Comes Out Swinging” … “Really Shined” … “Best20 Minutes of O’Malley’s Campaign”

MSNBC Headline: Martin O’Malley Finds His Stride in South Carolina

The Hill Headline: O’Malley: Unlike Sanders, I’m Not Disloyal

International Business Times Headline: Martin O'Malley Finds His Footing at MSNBC South Carolina Event with Rachel Maddow

Talking Points Memo Headline: O'Malley Hits Clinton on Keystone: 'Leadership Isn't About Following Polls'

Bustle Headline: Rachel Maddow's Democratic Forum Puts Martin O'Malley Climate Change Position Front And Center

Raw Story Headline: Martin O’Malley Comes Out Swinging against Sanders and Clinton’s Progressive Bonafides

Breitbart Headline: Martin O’Malley: ‘Our Economy Isn’t Money, It’s People’

Chris Matthews (Video): “I thought Governor O'Malley was very good tonight. I think this is a very good format for him. Very close in with Rachel.”

MSNBC: “Martin O’Malley finally found his stride Friday night as he fielded questions from MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow at the First in the South Democratic Presidential forum here.

“He deftly addressed some of his biggest vulnerabilities on racial unrest in Baltimore and the loss of his hand-picked successor for the governorship in 2014. And he took some shots at his Democratic rivals, frontrunner Hillary Clinton and challenger Bernie Sanders.

“And O’Malley dinged Clinton for coming to her opposition to the Keystone XL popeline later than him, saying she got there ‘just last week.’ O’Malley also found time to throw red meat to the crowd. ‘The reason we have the debt is because George Bush led us into war and didn’t ask us
to pay for it along the way,’ he said to applause.

“And when it came time for lighter questions, O’Malley was game – and even acknowledged the  he owns a kilt, but said it was a gift.”

Bustle: "Polished [and showed] sharpness.
...
"Was charismatic, he spoke confidently and extemporaneously, and he tackled every question more or less head-on ... the O’Malley team has to feel happy with how things went."


The Guardian: “O’Malley… joined Sanders in attacking Clinton for her hesitance in opposing the Keystone XL pipeline. O’Malley contrasted his longstanding opposition to the pipeline to Clinton’s slowness to stake a position.
...
“The former Maryland governor, who had one of his strongest performances of the campaign, also received a big round of applause for using a line that he has frequently used on the stump, saying ‘contrary to Donald Trump, the enduring symbol of our country is not barbed wire fence – it’s the Statue of Liberty.’”

Talking Points Memo:
“Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley took a swing at Democratic 2016 frontrunner Hillary Clinton, by suggesting her opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline was politically driven.

Bustle: “O'Malley discussed climate change at Rachel Maddow's Democratic forum, and he laid out his vision of how progressives should tackle political messaging about it … O'Malley answer was rooted in optimism about emerging and near-future clean energy technologies, and in a younger generation … O'Malley also made it clear that he doesn't want to wait on addressing climate change, but wants to press the issue. In other words, the availability of more oil, or other such dirty energies, is no excuse to wait on pioneering newer and cleaner ones.

“It's no surprise that O'Malley came off as polished, confident, and authoritative on this issue — he's been pushing a high-priority climate change policy for months. One of his central long-term goals? America running onentirely clean energy by 2050.”

Alex Seitz-Wald  @aseitzwald: Interesting note from our social team: O'Malley was the only individual candidate to trend on Twitter tonight.

Justin Karp @jskarp: Martin O'Malley is still one of the most impressive people I've ever seen in politics.

Intl. Business Times @IBTimes: Martin O'Malley was first up on MSNBC's #DemForum, and he found his footing http://bit.ly/1RDl2xJ

Alex Seitz-Wald @aseitzwald: 1.) The best 20 minutes of Martin O'Malley's campaign.  msnbc.com/msnbc/martin-o…

Joy Reid @JoyAnnReid: So far it seems both O'Malley & Sanders have done themselves some good in the #DemForum - very important for relative unknowns. #MSNBC2016

Ruth Sherlock: .@MartinOMalley put in a star performance tonight at #DemocraticForum: poised, smart, wise. Hard to see why polls are as they are. #USA

Marty Dunleavy @LaborIrishDem: Agree @MartinOMalley had a bit of a breakthrough tonight

Jared Yates Sexton @JYSexton: O'Malley holding court on abolishing death penalty, reforming police. pic.twitter.com/KYH2bdbxXo

MaryAlice Parks @maryaliceparks: O'Malley still hitting Clinton in spin room says SecClinton gave "triangulation" disjointed answer on death penalty pic.twitter.com/hroYAMPOmn

Ben Jacobs @Bencjacobs: O'Malley says "we need a president who is not on side of Wall Street like Hillary Clinton

MaryAlice Parks @maryaliceparks: Both Sanders and O'Malley hit Clinton for coming late to Keystone opinion at MSNBC forum

Jonathan McFadden ‏@JmcfaddenObsGov: .@Martinomalley takes media questions in the spin room, says he rejects "racist rants" from #GOP

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O'Malley for President
November 7, 2015

Praise for Martin O’Malley at the First in the South Democratic Candidates Forum

“Appeared Relaxed, Focused and Knowledgeable” … “Smart, Funny, Capable”... “Came Alive” … “Best 20 Minutes of His Campaign Thus Far”...“[O’Malley] Had That Spotlight and it was Terrific”... “Smart and Passionate”...“Strongest Moment of the Night was His Answer on #BlackLivesMatter”

Alex Seitz-Wald (Video):
“If anybody, you know outperformed expectations, I think it was Martin O'Malley..He looked smart, he looked funny, he looked capable...I really think it was the best 20 minutes of his campaign thus far.

Alex Witt (Video): “What I took away was, I want to hear more now from Martin O'Malley. He had that spotlight and it was terrific.”

Alex Seitz-Wald (Video):
“Martin O'Malley...I do kind of think that he is an undervalued stock right now, and he hasn't  gotten  much attention, but now that there is three candidates in the race, he could be due for a little bit of a moment. I talked to Congressman James Clyburn who is the most powerful
Democrat in the state here, and he told me that he thought that O'Malley did well by himself.”

Eric Bradner (Video):
“Martin O'Malley, the former Maryland Governor and another Democratic candidate were both sort of portraying Clinton as a newcomer, you know, the new kid on the liberal block, right? Someone who's just taken positions on these issues that they've been out in front of for months
or even years.”

MSNBC:  “In a one-on-one setting with Maddow, [O’Malley] came alive.

“Hehad strong moments, including on the Iraq War and a shot he took at Sanders for being a newcomer to the Democratic Party. O’Malley also funny moments discussing a kilt that was given to him.

“Rep. James Clyburn, the most powerful Democrat in South Carolina, who is staying neutral in the primary, said the former Maryland governor was one of his biggest takeaways from the night. ‘I think O’Malley did himself well,’  Clyburn told MSNBC”.

Esquire:
“O'Malley seemed to have been waiting for this kind of opportunity. He was relaxed and funny. Allowed to unwind his generational pitch, he talked about how young voters believe that climate change is real, and about how they think traditional attitudes toward LGBT citizens are ridiculous relics of a bygone age...He got a big hand. The man had some fun.”

MSNBC: “O’Malley ... appeared relaxed, focused and knowledgeable – insisting he, not
Sanders, was the more credible progressive alternative to Clinton.”

The Guardian:  “[O’Malley] was smart and passionate.”

WKBW:
“Beyond the substantive issues impacting the country, Martin O'Malley came out swinging— hitting both Clinton and Sanders. ‘It does not hold that a return to the old ideologies of the past or debating the pros and cons of socialism is going to solve our problems. Nor will declaring all Republicans our enemies help us bring people together,’ O'Malley said about his opponents.”  

NPR:
“The former Maryland governor ... didn't hold back in his criticisms of Clinton, and also claimed she had just recently opposed the Keystone XL pipeline when it became politically expedient to do so. But he also broadened his attacks to take on Sanders, questioning the political independent and self-described Democratic socialist's commitment to the Democratic Party, and even alluding to the fact that Clinton had been a Republican in her college years.”

CNN:
“O'Malley got in on the hits, saying Clinton got around to opposing the pipeline ‘just last week’ while he, too, had been opposed for months … O'Malley didn't train all his fire on Clinton, however. He also dinged Sanders for seeking a primary opponent to run against Obama in 2012.

Bloomberg:
“O'Malley was the only one of the three candidates to visit the spin room after the forum and he continued his attacks on his two rivals ... as he answered reporters' questions.”

People Magazine:
“The most unusual thing in Martin O'Malley's closet? A kilt!  And that's just one of the many revealing ... questions that host Rachel Maddow posed.”

Vincent Sheheen‏@vincentsheheen: Did you see my friend Governor @MartinOMalley last night? He did great! http://eepurl.com/bFjnmv

Dan Merica @danmericaCNN: O'Malley's strongest moment of the night was his answer on #BlackLivesMatter, race & Baltimore. cnn.com/2015/11/06/pol…

Dan Merica ‏@danmericaCNN: O'Malley also opened up a new front on Sanders: Proposing a liberal challenger against Obama in 2012. cnn.com/2015/11/06/pol…


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Haley Morris