S.C. Young Democrats reveling in big night

Tonight’s debate in Greenville is important — and not just for the seven presidential candidates.

Along with Furman University, the fledgling S.C. Young Democrats organization is co-sponsoring the debate and related events. The group was started after the 2002 election to get 18- to 30-somethings involved in politics.

About 100 members will watch from the Peace Center auditorium or work jobs that would make any aspiring politico drool — from helping run the media “spin room” after the debate to possibly assisting NBC anchor and moderator Tom Brokaw.

“I’ve had an awesome experience today,” said Young Democrat Tom Santaniello, a Furman senior, who learned Wednesday that he will be S.C. party chairman Joe Erwin’s “body man” for the day.

A body man is political speak for a personal assistant — like Charlie on “West Wing,” he explained. Santaniello said he was thrilled to watch Wednesday while Erwin was interviewed for CNN’s “Inside Politics.”

Young Democrats founder Katie Fowler said the event is a motivator for the members. Some got debate tickets or volunteer jobs as a reward for their involvement. Others are new members Fowler wants to encourage.

Fowler and others started the group after the party lost several key statewide races in 2002. Discouraged, she went to her father for support. He checked out a pile of political books from the library and encouraged her to brainstorm and read.

She and some friends wanted to reinvigorate the party and get young people involved in Democratic politics, so they started organizing.

The group has gone from a handful of members to more than 1,700. They meet at social and political events across the state and range in age from high school to over 30.

Fowler said she realized her success recently when she showed her father the debate T-shirts that will be sold Thursday.

“We just started cracking up,” she said. “He just said, ‘You can do whatever you want to do.’”

— Jennifer Talhelm