Please note: Because of lack of interest in the republican party, this rally has been moved to the vending machine area in the eaast basement. I'll both of you there tonight.
AIKEN --- The local Republican Party has invited all the party's presidential candidates to a forum two days before the Jan. 19 South Carolina GOP presidential primary.
Two candidates -- Cap Fendig and Hugh Cort -- have confirmed that they will participate in the rally, said Vicki Simons, who serves on one of the committees of the Aiken County Republican Party.
"The others: they'll either be there in person -- we just haven't heard back from them -- or they will be sending surrogates in their place," Ms. Simons said.
Two other GOP presidential candidates will be appearing in Aiken County next week, although not at the rally.
Fred Thompson is scheduled to visit Monday, according to his campaign. His first stop will be Al's Family Restaurant in North Augusta at 9 a.m. He will follow that with a visit to Papa Russ's Barbecue later in the day.
John McCain will visit the Aiken Municipal Center at 9 a.m. Jan. 17. As of Wednesday, the candidate's campaign could not confirm his attendance at the event that evening.
The local party's rally is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center, 471 University Parkway. According to Ms. Simons, each candidate will be given 15 minutes to address the crowd just 33 hours before voters go to the polls for the first-in-the-South presidential primary.
A similar presidential rally in 2000 drew 3,500 residents.
Ms. Simons said more than 4,000 people are expected to attend next week's event.
South Carolina's presidential primaries are split up over two Saturdays: Republicans vote Jan. 19, and Democrats go to the polls Jan. 26.
Georgia's presidential primaries are set for Feb. 5. Georgia residents are invited to attend the rally as well.
South Carolina's primaries were moved up to January to guarantee that the state would hold the first preference vote in the South.
The rally is free, but the Republican Party is asking for donations.
Reach Sandi Martin at (803) 648-1395, ext. 111, or sandi.martin@augustachronicle.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Aiken County Republican Party's Presidential Candidates Rally
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17
WHERE: University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center, 471 University Parkway
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Vicki Simons at (803) 652-0923 or Michael Vasovski at (803) 649-4446 or e-mail rally2008@aikengop.com.
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