By Andrew Dys The Herald
(Published October 10‚ 2003)
Winthrop University should know by Tuesday if it will host the Jan. 31 South Carolina debate among Democratic presidential hopefuls, said Joe Erwin, chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party.
Executives with NBC and Democratic Party officials will either meet face-to-face in New York on Tuesday or decide in a conference call whether Greenville, Charleston or Rock Hill gets the nod, Erwin said.
The debate will be held just days after the New Hampshire primary, and televised nationwide on MSNBC. South Carolina has the second primary nationally, and the state is expected to be a political make-or-break spot for any candidate hoping to get the nomination.
Erwin said he visited the College of Charleston earlier this week after a visit to Winthrop last week, during which President Anthony Di-Giorgio gave Er-win a tour of the campus.
"Tony has been terrific, the campus is incredible and I was impressed with what I saw," Erwin said.
Byrnes Auditorim would hold the debate while other buildings would be transformed to accommodate the national media, candidate staffs and other needs, said Rebecca Masters, Winthrop's assistant to the president for public affairs. The debate would bring national attention to Winthrop and the city, Masters said.
"Certainly, we are a contender, but we have to wait and see," Masters said.
NBC affiliation a factor
Furman University would be the host school for an event in Greenville, but the campus is not an option because Greenville County does not observe a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Erwin said. The Peace Center is in the city of Greenville, Erwin said, which does observe the holiday.
But the fact that Rock Hill does not have an NBC affiliate could come into play. Both the Greenville and Charleston markets have NBC affiliates. However, Rock Hill's ties to the large Charlotte television market, which has an NBC station, and the ability of candidates to get a two-states-for-one stop coverage could play in Win-throp's favor.
Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols also met with Erwin when he came to Rock Hill to visit Win-throp. Echols reiterated the local commitment to the debate.
"The country will be tuned in," Echols said. "All of the attention would be good for the university and the community. I want it to happen."
Robert Hopkins, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., said the York congressman has talked to Erwin about Winthrop getting the debate.
"He certainly put in a strong plug for Rock Hill," Hopkins said.
But Erwin reiterated that no decision has yet been made.
"There is a clear indication from all three institutions that they are willing to work very hard to put on this event," Erwin said. "Tuesday should be the day."
Contact Andrew Dys at 329-4065 or mailto:adys@heraldonline.com
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