SCGOP to Pick Primary Date Monday

S.C. Republican officials will announce the state's new presidential primary date Monday morning, SCGOP spokesman Matt Moore says.

The announcement will be made by state party chairman Chad Connelly at 11 a.m. at party headquarters, located at 1913 Marion St., in Columbia.

Florida's announcement that it will move its March primary to Jan. 31 -- and threats by other states to move up their primaries -- has thrown the entire primary process into turmoil.

Connelly vowed last week that the state party would not let "rogue" Florida usurp South Carolina's right to hold the first primary in the South.

S.C. Republicans had originally planned to hold their primary on Feb. 28, which was approved by the Republican National Committee and individual state parties -- including Florida -- last year.

For more background on the controversy, click here and here.