South Carolina emerges as ground zero for possible GOP presidential hopefuls

Come election season, South Carolina, with its history of choosing the eventual GOP White House nominee, is a particularly attractive venue for would be Republican candidates. Both Donald Trump and Mike Pence have made recent stops in the Palmetto State. And then there are activities by those who call SC home – Tim Scott and Nikki Haley. Danielle Vinson, a Furman University professor of politics and international affairs, believes the earlier-than-usual state visits may be a response to Trump’s early 2024 announcement. But being first off the starting blocks may not matter so much in South Carolina, where voters tend to keep options open, she explained.

In an article appearing in The Hill, Vinson said, “I think [Trump] still has a very strong base of support, but South Carolinians have always – this has been true in both Republican and Democratic primaries in the state – they’ve been pretty practical about things, and so they don’t always vote their heart. They sometimes look at the lay of the land and think about the bigger picture of who can actually win the general election.”

The article also appeared in Bradenton Herald and The Modesto Bee.