South Carolina Democratic Party

Welcome to our chat! This is a great day for SC Dems--the campaign has moved to our state in full force, and we'll be enjoying it for the next 2 weeks.

Can I ask a question?

Sure

Hi! I just want to say how great it was to hear you on MSNBC today. You do SC proud!

Thank you! Suddenly the national media are very interested in us down here.

Which Dem CAN get elected????

If I knew that I would be the most sought-after person in the country! I believe any of our candidates would be a better president than any of theirs, but I can't predict which one is more likely to win in November.

Voter turnout has been huge in both Iowa and NH. Can we expect similar interest here and what can we do to have a similar huge turnout? Democrats rock in 2008!

I think our turnout will be enormous, too. The candidates are working hard to turn out their voters, and there is greater interest than I have ever seen. Lots of people are already voting absentee, and that's often a sign that turnout will be high. I'm confident that more people will vote here than in IA or NH.

I read on MSC on Monday - when Hillary was considering major changes - that she would be bypassing SC to move to the 02/05 states. I assume that has changed after yesterday and, if so, can we expect to see her herer?

She'll definitely be here. She can't afford not to campaign in SC.

Carol, is anyone getting video feeds of your appearances on the media such as the mentioned MSBC above? For those of us that work, some access to what you and others with the party are saying to the national media would be exciting.

I don't know how that can be done, but I'll ask some of the smart people around here and maybe some of it can be put on our web site.

Do you have a schedule of planned candidate visits for SC

As they send them to us we put them on the calendar on our website, but sometimes they make their plans at the last minute. You can also go to the candidate sites and sign up for their emails. They'll let you know then by email when they are coming.

While I'm waiting for another question, I'll remind you of our stump meeting the night before the primary. All the candidates have been invited and we think they'll show up. Details are on the web site, and you can buy a ticket there. We've sold a good many tickets already.

As far as candidate visits to SC is concerned, John Edwards is in Columbia tonight at 7 p.m. at Dreher High School Auditorium. The quickest route to information is to go to each of the candidate's website and get your name on their email list. Then you get notices of appearances. At least that is what I did and I got emails and phone calls about Edwards. I have not received word yet from any others.

I know that Obama is in Charleston tomorrow, too.

Will the stump meeting be formatted something like the Clyburn fish fry?

It will not be in a parking garage! We'll have a stage and the candidates will speak one at a time, probably with a little time in between if they want to work the room. We'll have hot dogs, etc, and I think it will be a good opportunity to see the candidates one more time before we vote.

Why is John Edwards so angry?

I hadn't noticed that.

There was a conversation online today about the fact that SC has two primaries and doesn't register by party. The speculation was that a bunch of people who might otherwise vote in the dem primary would vote in the earlier primary (rep) to vote for McCain, leaving Obama with less of the independent vote. Can you comment on that?

I suppose that's a possibility, but it would be a possibility in any state--I don't think any state allows you to vote in more than one primary. It's true, though, that in a good many states you have to be registered in a party to vote in that party's primary. Here any voter can choose one or the other.

Sorry to be late. A lot of people have been talking lately about how much they dislike the automated calls from candidates. I had 3 calls last week from Ron Paul'

This is definitely the year of the autocall. They're a good way to get information out about a meeting or rally, but not too good at convincing folks to vote a particular way. Candidates use them because they are cheaper than mail, and phone numbers are easier to get than email addresses.

There are still people in our state who don't know when the primary is. How can we Dems spread the word?

We're trying to put it in everything we send out. The campaigns are, too, I hope. And the media will help with that as we get closer. But I agree that all of us should take every opportunity to tell people that it's the 26th--please help us spread the word. Tell them, too, that if they vote in the Repub primary on the 19th they won't be allowed to vote in ours.

Can anyone attend the debate next week in MB?

You have to have a ticket. The Congressional Black Caucus is the sponsor. They gave us a limited number of tickets, but those are pretty much gone except for a few that we are holding for people who sign up to join our Yellow Dog Club--the deadline for that is tomorrow. The details are on the web site.

Sorry...From Ron Paul's wife and it made me know a lot more about him. Now he scares me more than before. The point is, however, can we stop candidates from making invasive type contacts that only turn off prospective voters?

I don't know how we can stop candidates from doing that. Of course, we don't care if Ron Paul turns off voters!

Do you think anymoe candidates will drop out of the race before SC?

I haven't heard any rumors that they might. The primary reason they drop out is running out of money.

You mentioned the media attention earlier. What's the best way to use the next two weeks to try to create a permanent movement toward the Dem Party here? The primary is important, but the general will decide the presidency for the next 4 years (at least).

Seems to me that the best thing we can do is present our candidates and our elected officials in the most positive light possible. I agree that the general is more important. The minute the primary is over we have to get started on things that will help us elect Democrats at all levels in November.

One interesting thing that we're working on this week is a plan for the media who will be coming to SC. We'll have a big center where they can set up to do their work when they're not out interviewing voters, etc, and where the networks can do interviews if they want. It's fun to learn about what they need and expect.

What plans does the state Party have for after the primary?

Our next step is the precinct meetings on Sat., Feb. 23. I hope you're planning to attend! It's the first step in our process of selecting delegates to the national convention, but it's also when we organize our party at the grassroots level.

You're talking about the media for more than the debate?

Yes--the media for the debate will be handled in Myrtle Beach by CNN. I'm talking about the media who come here to cover our primary. It's what you've seen in the last few days from New Hampshire, only in Columbia. Of course, reporters will be in other places in SC, too, but the center will be here.

Can we get names from the primary vote and recruit them to the party? Are there ways to capture them when they are interested?

We will get all the names. We have all registered voters in our database, and when they vote in the primary that will be indicated. We are also attempting to hand out a flyer to people who come to vote telling them how to get involved in the flyer. Every county party is looking for volunteers to hand them out on election day.

Will we have Democrats running in all state elections this year?

I hope so. There are likely to be some legislative races in very Republican districts where no Democrat runs, but we will have candidates for most things.

I was looking at the website earlier today and having trouble figuring our where my precinct meeting would be held. The links to the counties (Lexington for me) are there but there's nothing about the the meeting will be held. How can we get that information?

WE will post all of that information on the site, but it is just now coming in from the county parties. You can also call and ask your county chair. The chairs for each county are on the site.

Should we call our county party to volunteer to help with the flyers on election day?

Yes--I'm sure they'd like some help. Thanks.

Hi Carol! How do you think John McCain's win in NH impact the primaries in SC, if at all?

I think it certainly strengthens his chances here and in other places, but I don't think it affects our primary.

I saw ___ Reed on CNN last night and he was talking about the impact of the more moderate or conservative evangelical vote in SC and how it would add strength to Huckabee. I know that's a different primary, but is that really the size factor he seemed to say and that different from the voters in NH?

Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition. I think there is a much higher percentage of conservative evangelical voters in SC than in NH. That's a much more secular state than SC or Iowa.

What can we do to ensure that SC will have good voter turnout in our primary?

The candidates are working very hard on turnout, and the media are giving the primary lots of attention. I am confident we'll set records.

I know Mr. Edwards is at Dreher tonight, but was wondering when and where I might be able to see or meet with Mr. Obama here in SC?

He'll be in Charleston tomorrow, and I'm sure he'll be in other towns in the next couple of weeks. Sign up on his website and they'll let you know when and where.

Does that Party need any volunteers in Columbia and, if so, who would we call/email? How old do you need to be? Just voting age?

We always need volunteers here at the SCDP. Call Barbara Bowman at 803-799-7798. We use people of every age.

This has been another great chat Carol. Thanks!

Thank you! I appreciate everyone's interest in the work of our party.

WE still have a couple of minutes if anyone has another question--otherwise I hop I'll see all of you at the stump meeting on January 25.