BY SCHUYLER KROPF
Of The Post and Courier Staff
Monday marks a big day for state and local Republicans, as President Bush visits Greenville for a $2,000-a-person fund-raiser that's expected to push him closer to his goal of raising $100 million for his re-election bid.
Later that day, Charleston County Republicans will gather to elect a new party chairman at their 2003 convention.
Although Charleston Republicans can't compete with the star quality of Bush's Upstate visit, party leaders will try to heighten interest with a straw poll to see who among the four U.S. Senate candidates is the local favorite.
In a local twist, the protester being prosecuted by the federal government for getting too close to Bush during a Columbia visit a year ago said Friday he's not sure if he will go to Greenville but that someone from his organization will be in the protest zone.
Columbia activist Brett Bursey, who is set to be in court next week, said he wants Bush to know the S.C. Progressive Network opposes his policies at home and abroad. "We're winning," Bursey said of his legal fight with the government.
Bursey faces a seldom-used federal charge of entering a restricted area around the president of the United States while he protested outside an airport hanger in Columbia before the 2002 election. He faces up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted.
The White House formally confirmed Bush's Greenville schedule late Friday, but invitations have been in circulation for some time. Bush will be at a reception and dinner at the Palmetto Expo Center, and the proceeds will go to Bush-Cheney 2004.
Bush also will conduct what the White House called "a conversation on the economy" with employees at the BMW plant in Greer around 3:30 p.m.
Nationally, Bush's popularity has taken a hit lately, but state Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said Friday that South Carolina remains safe ground.
"South Carolina has always been Bush country, from the primary on through," Dawson said. "He is one of the most beloved figures in South Carolina. He, Ronald Reagan and his father have been the modern Republican Party here."
More than 500 people, including Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife, are expected to attend the fund-raiser. Bush already has pulled in more than $94 million, and he's expected to have raised $200 million by next year.
Locally, Charleston County Republicans will meet at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton hotel in North Charleston to elect a new county chairman. Incumbent Linda Butler Johnson is stepping down to become president of the S.C. Federation of Republican Women. Running to replace her are long-time activists Cyndi Mosteller and Charles Steinert. Johnson has endorsed Steinert.
A straw poll will be held to determine the popularity of the four GOP candidates running for U.S. Senate: former attorney general Charlie Condon, U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel.
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