COLUMBIA, S.C.,None — The South Carolina GOP announced Monday morning they would be moving their primary date up to Jan. 21, ten days before Florida's primary.
"Last Friday, a nine person committee brought chaos to the 2012 calendar. Today, South Carolina is making things right," said SC GOP Chair Chad Connelly Monday. "South Carolina Republicans have a thirty year track record of picking the eventual Republican Presidential nominee. We will continue that historic tradition on Jan. 21, 2012."
The state's conservative delegation also announced it would be home to a "First in the South" Republican debate in the days before the primary.
Florida GOP officials elected to move their primary up ahead of South Carolina last week.
Florida has not announced an intent to move its day up close to the first of the year, but the damage may have already been done.
With primaries starting earlier, politicians who are still on the fence about jumping into the race -- like NJ governor Chris Christie -- could be forced out of the race by not having the time to raise capital and organize a massive national campaign.
WSOC
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