South Carolina Visits 2013-14

 rationale, methodology and limitations  |  this page updated Dec. 31, 2014   
REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS
2015 Republican Visits >

2013-14 Republican Visits
2013-14
Bush
Carson
Christie
Cruz
Fiorina
Huckabee
Jindal
Paul
Perry
Rubio
Santorum
Walker
Visits: 39
2
2
2
5
1
3
4
6
5
2
5
1
Days: 48
2
2
2
6
1
3
5
7
9
2
6
1
Tally includes: Huntsman 1 visit, 1 day.
Tally shows total visits with public events for 2013-14 Not included in tally: George Pataki, 1 visit, 1 day.  Private visits not included in tally.  Santorum, who has two sons at The Citadel, visits the state fairly frequently, Rubio made a non-public visit on July 20, 2014.  Jeb Bush's May 2013 visit for a closed meeting not included. 


2014
>Former Gov. Jeb Bush met with Gov. Nikki Haley at the Governor's Mansion, then spoke to graduates at the University of South Carolina winter commencement and received an honorary degree at USC's Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC on the afternoon of December 15, 2014.

>Former Gov. George Pataki spoke on the "Challenge of Leadership" in the annual Hipp Lecture on International Affairs and National Security at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC on December 1, 2014.

>Gov. Rick Perry visited SC on November 11-12, 2014.  On November 11 he made brief remarks at the Grand Strand Patriotic Alliance's Veterans Day ceremony on the plaza at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center; spoke at a Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Convention Center; toured and spoke at PTR Industries, a gun manufacturer, in Aynor (about 30 mi. NE of Myrtle Beach); and was the featured guest speaker at Special Operations Wounded Warriors' Veteran's Day Celebration and Charity Dinner at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach.  On November 12 he spoke at a lunch, sponsored by Republican organizations in Beaufort County, at The Crazy Crab on Hilton Head Island; and, hosted by the Sun City Hilton Head and Greater Bluffton Republican Clubs, spoke at the Rose Hill Golf Club in Bluffton.


Subtotal for the Pre-Campaign Period: From Nov. 7, 2012 through Election Day, Nov. 4, 2014, 13 potential candidates made 37 visits totaling 45 days.  This is very similar to the last cycle when 12 potential candidates made 33 visits totalling 42 days through Election Day Nov. 2, 2010.
2013-14
Bush
Carson
Christie
Cruz
Fiorina
Huckabee
Jindal
Paul
Perry
Rubio
Santorum
Walker
Visits: 37
1
2
2
5
1
3
4
6
4
2
5
1
Days: 45
1
2
2
6
1
3
5
7
7
2
6
1
Tally includes: Huntsman 1 visit, 1 day.
Tally shows total visits with public events for 2013-14 Private visits not included in tally.  Santorum, who has two sons at The Citadel, visits the state fairly frequently, Rubio made a non-public visit on July 20, 2014.  Jeb Bush's May 2013 visit for a closed meeting not included. 

>Dr. Benjamin Carson spoke at a fundraiser for the Lexington County Republican Party at the State Farmer's Market in West Columbia, SC on the afternoon of November 2, 2014.

>Gov. Chris Christie joined Gov. Nikki Haley in Spartanburg, SC on November 2, 2014.  They attended church services at First Baptist Spartanburg (Rep. Trey Gowdy's church); and rallied at the Beacon Drive-In.

>Gov. Bobby Jindal campaigned with Gov. Nikki Haley in SC on October 30, 2014, day two of her bus tour, making stops at Coastal Carolina University in Conway; at Nosh in Pawleys Island; and at The Red Pepper restaurant in Summerville.

>Former Gov. Jeb Bush visited SC on October 23, 2014 to campaign with Gov. Nikki Haley.  They did a meet and greet with supporters at the Greenville County Republican Party's Victory campaign office at 850 Wade Hampton Blvd. in Greenville; a meet and greet with supporters at Hudson's Smokehouse in Lexington; and he headlined a high-dollar fundraiser for Haley and the SC GOP at the Capital City Club in Columbia.

>Sen. Marco Rubio visited SC on October 22, 2014.  In the morning he attended a meet and greet with local officials and party leaders at the home of Peter and Pam Brown in Columbia; he and Sen. Tim Scott headlined a SC GOP "Road to Victory" luncheon at The Hall at Senate's End in Columbia; he spoke to the South Carolina Student Legislature at the Statehouse in Columbia; and CNN's Peter Hamby reported that he was to headline a private fundraiser for the Palmetto Policy Forum in Greenville.

>Sen. Ted Cruz visited SC on October  11-12, 2014.  On October 11 he did a roundtable at a "Bridging the Gap" forum organized by The Palladium Group (a Spartanburg consulting firm founded by Karen Floyd) at the Spartanburg Community College Downtown Campus in Spartanburg; and attended an Alan Wilson for Attorney General tailgate meet and greet next to Memorial Stadium at Clemson University in Clemson.  Mid-afternoon on October 12 he attended an ice cream social hosted by the Spartanburg and Greenville Republican parties at the River Falls Plantation Golf Clubhouse in Duncan. 

>Gov. Bobby Jindal visited SC on October 6-7, 2014.  (Following a major foreign policy speech at AEI in the morning) on the evening of October 6 he spoke to The Charleston Meeting at the Mills House Hotel in Charleston On October 7 he met with volunteers at the SCGOP Victory office at 1156 Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant; and spoke at the Citadel in Charleston.

>Sen. Rand Paul visited SC on September 30, 2014.  He did a college tour with SC GOP chairman Matt Moore, holding events in the Gressette Room at Harper College at University of South Carolina in Columbia; and in Alumni Memorial Hall at Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston; and he appeared at a Victory ice cream social fundraiser for the Horry County Republican Party at their headquarters on Rodeo Drive in Myrtle Beach.

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum hosted a fundraiser for lieutanant governor nominee Henry McMaster in Charleston, SC on the evening of September 19, 2014 seeking details on venue-ed.

>Gov. Chris Christie visited SC on September 16, 2014 to campaign for Gov. Nikki Haley and raise money for her campaign and the SC GOP.  They did a retail stop at Moe's Southwest Grill in Charleston; an RGA event iat the Nexsen Pruet law firm n Charleston; a Nikki Haley for Governor event at Sticky Fingers Rib House in Charleston; and a Nikki Haley for Governor/SC GOP event at the River Course Clubhouse on Kiawah Island. (-)

>Sen. Ted Cruz made a retail stop at The Beacon Restaurant in Spartanburg; and he headlined a Victory lunch for the South Carolina Republican Party at Seawell's in Columbia, SC on September 15, 2014.

>Former Helwett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina appeared at Sen. Tim Scott's "Women in Leadership" series launch event at Trident Technical College in North Charleston, SC on September 15, 2014.

>Gov. Rick Perry visited SC on August 27-28, 2014.  On August 27 he headlined a SCGOP “Victory Tailgate” fundraiser at First Citizens Café in Columbia.  On August 28 he spoke at Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2014 kick off event at River Bluff High School in Lexington; headlined a fundraiser for South Carolina Rep. Kirkman Finlay at Doc's Barbeque & Southern Buffet in Columbia; and attended the Texas A&M Aggies vs. USC Gamecocks football game (Aggies won 52-28, gaining the new Bonham Trophy).

>Sen. Rand Paul appeared with U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney at a Liberty BBQ at the Magnolia Room in Rock Hill, SC on August 25, 2014.

>Sen. Marco Rubio visited SC on August 25, 2014.  CNN's Peter Hamby reported Rubio "spent the day in a series of closed-door sessions with influential local activists and potential financial backers" including meeting with senior officials from Bob Jones University; meeting with social conservatives at the home of Lisa van Riper, president of South Carolina Citizens
For Life, in Greenville; and holding a fundraiser for his Reclaim America PAC in Greenville.  The public event was his evening appearance as the featured speaker at U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan's 4th Annual Faith & Freedom BBQ at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson (.).

(En route from Florida to DC Sen. Marco Rubio overnighted in Charleston, SC and on July 20, 2014 attended services at SeaCoast church with Sen. Tim Scott; non-political, no public events).   not counting in tally...no public events noted

>Gov. Rick Perry visited SC on July 1-2, 2014.  On July 1 he toured the Medal of Honor Museum on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point; held a business roundtable at Water Missions International in North Charleston; and, introduced by Gov. Haley, spoke at the Dorchester County GOP Big Bang BBQ fundraiser at Miller Country Club in Summerville.  On the evening of July 2 he appeared at a hamburgers and hotdogs fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney at City of Light in Indian Land.

>Former Gov. Rick Santorum appeared at three events in support of Henry McMaster for lieutenant governor (June 24 runoff with Mike Campbell) in SC on June 23, 2014.  He joined McMaster for a news conference at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer; at a meet and greet at the Beacon Drive-in in Spartanburg; and at a meet and greet at the Crowne Plaze Hotel in Greenville.

>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared at three airport "get out the vote" rallies/press conferences with Mike Campbell, candidate for lieutenant governor (June 24 runoff with Henry McMaster) in SC on the afternoon of June 21, 2014.  They appeared at Stevens Aviation's executive hangar at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer; at Columbia Owens-Field Downtown Airport; and at Landmark Aviation in North Charleston.

(Former Gov. Mike Huckabee cut a radio ad for Mike Campbell that began running on June 11, 2014).

>Gov. Bobby Jindal was the featured speaker at the South Carolina Republican Party's Silver Elephant Dinner at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, SC on the evening of June 6, 2014.  CNN's Paul Steinhauser reported he was also to stop by a fundraiser for Attorney General Alan Wilson and meet with Gov. Nikki Haley as well as doing media.

(Janet Huckabee did two fundraising events in SC for Mike Campbell for lieutenant governor on June 3-4, 2014.  On the evening of June 3 she was the special guest at a fundraiser at House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach; and on the afternoon of June 4 she was the special guest at an desserts and coffee event at Lace House on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion in Columbia).

>On his book tour for Blue Collar Conservatives Sen. Rick Santorum had initially been scheduled to make a stop in Greenville, SC on May 27, 2014.

>Former Gov. Mike Huckabee visited Greenville, SC on May 2, 2014The State reported he was to headline a Pastors and Pews event sponsored by the American Renewal Project; and he announced his endorsement of Mike Campbell for lieutenant governor in the June 10 primary in a press conference at Greenville Downtown Airport.

Out of state note: CNN reported that former Gov. Jeb Bush headlined a fundraiser for Gov. Nikki Haley in Jacksonville, FL on May 2, 2014.

>Sen. Ted Cruz keynoted the Free Enterprise Foundation's 8th annual awards banquet in at the Holliday Alumni Center at The Citadel in Charleston, SC on April 15, 2014Politico's Manu Raju reported that afterwards Cruz "met with a group of event organizers and area Republicans at a Marriott Hotel bar booth."  (The Free Enterprise Foundation is "a non-profit, independent research institution headquartered at The Citadel").

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on April 14, 2014.  He made a stop at The Citadel, where two of his sons are cadets; did a Patriot Voices meet and greet in Mt. Pleasant; gave the keynote address at the Charleston County Republican Women's lunch meeting at Mark Clark Hall in Charleston; and addressed a meeting of the Charleston County Republican Committee at North Charleston City Hall in North Charleston.  According to a Patriot Voices media advisory he was planning to attend private fundraisers in Charleston and Columbia and meet with grassroots activists and political leaders. 

(Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on April 3, 2014.  No public events noted; tweeted "Great being in Charleston, SC with John, @DanSantorum, my brother Dan and my great friend Eddie Taylor.")    not counting in tally...no public events noted

>Dr. Benjamin Carson spoke at the Great Homeschool Convention at the TC Convention Center in Greenville, SC on the evening of March 22, 2014.


2013 Cruz
Huckabee
Huntsman
Jindal
Paul
Perry
Santorum
Walker
Visits: 14
2
1
1
1
4
2
2
1
Days: 17
2
1
1
1
5
3
3
1

>Gov. Rick Perry visited SC on December 3-4, 2013.  On December 3 in Spartanburg he addressed the Rotary Club of Downtown Spartanburg at the Piedmont Club; toured the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center; toured the Smith Drug Company plant; and in the evening was the featured speaker at the South Carolina Republican Party/Spartanburg County Republican Party Winter Dinner and Conservative Banquet at the Spartanburg Expo Center.  On December 4 in Greenville he keynoted the annual meeting of the Electric Co-Ops of South Carolina at the Hyatt; toured the Next Innovation Center; and spoke at a salute to scouting fundraiser for the Blue Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America at the Poinsett Club.

>Sen. Rand Paul visited Charleston, SC on November 11-12, 2013.  On November 11, Veteran's Day, he did a roundtable with area Republicans; spoke at a South Carolina Republican Party fundraising luncheon at the Harbour Club; did a roundtable/fundraiser for Rand Paul for Senate with local physicians at Thomas Bennett House; and addressed "The Charleston Meeting" at the Harbour Club.  On November 12 he spoke to cadets in McAlister Field House at The Citadel as part of the Greater Issues Series.

>Sen. Ted Cruz spoke to an audience of pastors at the South Carolina Renewal Project (David Lane) in Columbia, SC on November 5, 2013.

>Former Gov. Jon Huntsman visited Hilton Head, SC on October 4, 2013; he addressed the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head at the First Presbyterian Church; and visited the Mandarin Chinese program at Hilton Head Island Elementary School.

>Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Tim Scott were featured speakers at Rep. Jeff Duncan's 3rd annual Faith and Freedom BBQ in at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson, SC on the evening of August 26, 2013.

>Govs. Bobby Jindal, Gov. Rick Perry and Gov. Scott Walker attended a fundraiser for Gov. Nikki Haley at the home of developer Bob Hughes in Greenville, SC on August 26, 2013.

>Sen. Rand Paul visited SC on June 28, 2013;  He was the featured speaker at at South Carolina Republican Party luncheon in Greenville; and at the South Carolina Republican Party barbecue dinner at the State Farmers' Market in Columbia.

(As reported by WCBD News, former Gov. Jeb Bush was one of a number of prominent people to attend a conference led by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates at the Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island, SC in May 2013; non-political, no public events).   not counting in tally...no public events noted

>Former Sen. Rick Santorum visited SC on May 3-4, 2013.  On May 3 he visited The Citadel for his son John's Recognition Day.  On May 4 per spokeswoman Virginia Davis via the Des Moines Register he “became ill and was admitted to the hospital for a gastro-intestinal illness and dehydration.”

>Sen. Ted Cruz was the keynote speaker at the South Carolina Republican Party's 46th Silver Elephant Banquet at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, SC on the evening of May 3, 2013.

According to WITN former Gov. Mike Huckabee stopped at the Hilton in Greenville, SC on April 5, 2013 for an appearance on the Tom and Sadie show on WTIB.  (Earlier as part of WNBU/Inner Banks Media's "Talkfest" he broadcast his syndicated radio show in front of a large audience at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern, NC). 

>In the runoff campaign in SC's 1st CD, former Sen. Rick Santorum stumped with Curtis Bostic at A Plus Auto Service in North Charleston and at The Kickin' Chicken in Summerville on March 27, 2013.

>Sen. Rand Paul visited Charleston, SC on January 21, 2013. He held a press conference; and addressed "The Charleston Meeting" at the Harbour Club.

also Rep. Steve King spoke at the "Charleston Meeting" in Charleston, SC on August 26, 2013.


Notes:
-The Charleston Meeting, begun in 2011 by Mallory Factor as an offshoot of his New York Meeting, is "a nationally-recognized gathering of elected officials, journalists, business leaders and conservative authors." >

-South Carolina Renewal Project is part of David Lane's American Renewal Project. >


2014

 
     
 
   
   
   
 
   
 
2013
 
 



DEMOCRATIC PROSPECTS
2015 Democratic Visits >

2013-14 Democratic  Visits
2013-14
Biden
O'Malley
Sanders







Visits: 11
4
4
3







Days: 12
4
4
4








2014
No visits between Election Day Nov. 4 and the end of the year.

Subtotal for the Pre-Campaign Period
: From Nov. 7, 2012 t
hrough Election Day, Nov. 4, 2014, three potential candidates made 11 visits totaling 12 days.
2013-14
Biden
O'Malley
Sanders







Visits: 11
4
4
3







Days: 12
4
4
4








>Gov. Martin O'Malley visited SC on November 1, 2014 to campaign with gubernatorial nominee Vincent Sheheen.  He joined Sheheen at a meet and greet at the SC Democratic Party field office in Moncks Corner; at a get-out-the-vote rally hosted by state Sen. Marlon Kimpson at Trident Technical College main campus in North Charleston; and dropped in to thank volunteers working to get out the vote at the SC Democratic Party field office in North Charleston.

>Vice President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Jill Biden, visited Columbia, SC on October 14, 2014.  He attended a meeting with African-American clergy at Allen University; headlined a "Commit to Vote" event at the Allen University gymnasium; and attended an event for the South Carolina Democratic Party at a private residence.

>Gov. Martin O'Malley visited SC on September 20, 2014.  As reported by the Washington Post's John Wagner, he campaigned with gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen at the Clarendon County Breakfast at Trinity AME Church in Manning; appeared at a rally with Sheheen and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Bakari Sellers at Hopkins Park in Hopkins; and he "appeared at the South Carolina Pride festival in Columbia for about a half hour at the request of Sheheen."

>Sen. Bernie Sanders held a town hall meeting at The Lourie Center in Columbia, SC on the evening of August 28, 2014.


The independent Ready for Hillary super PAC's Hillary bus visited SC colleges and universities on August 19-21, 2014: Clemson University, South Carolina State University (HBCU), Claflin University (HBCU); (Aug. 21) the University of South Carolina, and The College of Charleston.

Out of state note: Politico's Maggie Haberman reported on June 12 that Gov. Martin O'Malley was a special guest and Vice President Joe Biden stopped by a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen at a private home in Washington, DC on the evening of June 11, 2014.

(Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden vacationed at Kiawah Island, SC from May 31-June 3, 2014).

>Gov. Martin O'Malley spoke at a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen at The Alley in Charleston on late afternoon on May 9, 2014.  He and wife Katie attended the graduation of his daughter Tara from the College of Charleston on May 10.

>Vice President Joe Biden visited Columbia, SC on May 9, 2014.  He spoke at a fundraising lunch for the South Carolina Democratic Party at the Capital City Club; and delivered the commencement address in the Colonial Life Arena at the University of South Carolina.

The independent Ready for Hillary super PAC held a roundtable with South Carolina grassroots leaders and RfH's Hans Goff at the Clarion Hotel in Columbia, SC late on the afternoon of May 1, 2014.  Additionally on the morning of May 3, 2014 Sen. Tim Kaine (VA), speaking at the South Carolina Women’s Democratic Council breakfast in Columbia, SC, announced he was joining the Ready for Hillary effort.

>Sen. Bernie Sanders visited Charleston, SC on April 25, 2014.  He spoke at the College of Charleston's Wachovia Auditorium hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center and6 #FightForCofC; and campaigned for 7th CD congressional candidate Gloria Bromell Tinubu at a rally at the meeting hall of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422; and at a fundraising reception at the home of chef and author Nathalie Dupree.

The independent Ready for Hillary super PAC held its first SC fundraiser at 701 Whatley St. in Columbia, SC on the evening of February 20, 2014.

2013

>Sen. Bernie Sanders visited SC on October 18-19, 2013.  On the evening of October 18 he spoke at a "Fight for Economic Justice" town hall meeting sponsored by South Forward at the Eau Claire Print Building in Columbia.  On October 19 he spoke at the S.C. Progressive Network fall retreat at Penn Center on St. Helena Island.

>Vice President Joe Biden made an official visit to the Port of Charleston in Charleston, SC on September 16, 2013; he spoke about "the importance of infrastructure investment to exports, economic competitiveness, and job creation."

>Vice President Joe Biden delivered the keynote address at the South Carolina Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at the Metropolitan Convention Center and dropped by Rep. Jim Clyburn’s annual Fish Fry at the Carolina Field House in Columbia, SC on the evening of May 3, 2013.

(Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden vacationed at Kiawah Island, SC from March 29-April 2, 2013).

>Gov. Martin O'Malley addressed the South Carolina Democratic Party's 2nd Annual Issues Conference at West Ashley High School in Charleston on March 23, 2013.

2014



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