Congressman To Host GOP Candidates

U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has invited 12 GOP primary presdiential candidates to meet with his Lowcountry constituents in "Tim's Town Halls." 

The first event, featuring former Ambassador Jon Huntsman, is at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at Charles Town Landing in West Ashley. 

Later this month, Scott will host Michele Bachman on Aug. 25 at a location that will be announced later. The site does not list any other scheduled candidates at this time. 

So far the site only lists Bachmann and Huntsman under "Meet the Candidates." 

Scott represents District 1, which includes portions of Dorchester and Berkeley counties, and all of Charleston County.

Sen. Jim DeMint has also announced forums for the S.C. primary candidates. 

Like many of the town hall-format events held by politicians, the candidates will field questions from the crowd. Scott will act as moderator, also asking questions.

With the state a key player in the GOP presidential primary, the forums give the opportunity for voters to meet many of the candidates face-to-face, according to College of Charleston adjunct professor of political science Jeri Cabot.

"This is picking up on the Iowa, New Hampshire retail politics, basically going door-to-door … You're seeing people up front and close," Cabot said.

"Every state longs for that … I think South Carolina deserves credit maneuvering itself in there at the top of the primary season."

And what's good for the GOP primary voters is good for Scott, she said.

"It's free media. He's already gotten some positive, free media (because of the town hall initiative)," Cabot said. 

Scott catapulted into the national dialog on the debt ceiling in June after saying if President Barack Obama invoked the 14th Amendment to raise the ceiling,  

He's now continuing to be apart of the nation's political scene by hosting presidential candidates, Cabot said.

"He's there; he's kind of sitting there playing the king-maker role," she added.