NEW YORK — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., hosted a “milk-and-cookies” reception for South Carolina delegates after Tuesday’s convention session.

Funny thing about milk-and-cookies receptions — no milk, no cookies.

There was, however, plenty of food and libation.

State GOP chairman Katon Dawson called it an “upscale” milk-and-cookies reception.

Indeed it was — top-shelf liquor, whole lobsters and a band.

Graham invited New York City’s finest — cops and firefighters.

Unlike the delegates, they showed up in shifts.

SIBLING REVELRY

President Bush’s sister — the “first sister”? — told South Carolinians on Wednesday she loves the Palmetto State “for a lot of reasons,” not the least of which is “what you did for us in 2000.”

Dorothy Koch, affectionately known as “Doro,” was referring to her brother’s primary victory over U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona four years ago, a victory that saved George W. Bush’s candidacy and paved the way for his nomination and election to the White House.

“You must know how much the president appreciates South Carolina,” she told a breakfast meeting of state delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention.

Her son, Sam, is a junior at the University of South Carolina. He has an “adorable” girlfriend from Laurens, Koch said.

House Speaker David Wilkins of Greenville, who introduced Koch, said her son interviewed with him for a job at the State House but later begged off, saying he was too busy. He had a girlfriend.

SANFORD IN 2008?

GOP chairman Dawson said Republicans are already starting to look beyond this presidential election to the 2008 contest.

Top party officials, consultants and media advisers already have approached him with inquiries about an S.C. primary.

“Well, I’ll tell you we have somebody in Mark Sanford they’re looking at” as a potential candidate, he told a delegate breakfast meeting. “We’re going to get re-elected as governor. But Mark Sanford’s presence on the nationwide scene is known. It is known what he is doing for South Carolina.

“In four years at our convention, we’ll be talking about him.”

Sanford said Dawson must have been drinking too much firewater.

NO FEAR OF THE DROP

The Republicans’ balloon-and-confetti guy has no fear the GOP convention will end like the Democratic one, when CNN viewers heard a producer shout, “Go balloons,” followed by: “I don’t see anything happening.”

Treb Heining said his balloon nets always open. It will take five seconds for workers to pull a string to release the latex balloons. In 20 more seconds, the balloons will be on the ground or in delegates’ hands, he promised.

“I’m not going to feel any more nervous than normally in doing something for the president of the United States,” said Heining, who has handled Republican balloon drops since 1988.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.