FOCUS: Political world to descend this week on South Carolina

Photo credit: Shelby del Vecchio

Staff reports |  It will seem like you won’t be able to turn a corner this week in Charleston without bumping into a presidential candidate, a staffer, a reporter or a camera crew.  

The political world — with reporters from as far away as Sydney, Australia — will descend upon the Palmetto State in search of the “what’s next” in the horse race of a presidential contest known as the Democratic presidential primary.

The week will start with town halls by CNN, followed by a Tuesday evening Democratic debate aired nationally from the Charleston Gaillard Center to Saturday’s first-in-the-South presidential primary.  Republicans elected to not have a primary. But that won’t keep away GOP President Donald Trump, who will have a rally Friday in North Charleston in what some critics see as part political-stalking, part-voter intimidation and part-spurring of members of his party to interfere with the Saturday election.

Here’s a list of what’s happening in the week ahead across the state:

 CNN town halls in Charleston. Here are town halls being hosted by CNN at Memminger Auditorium in Charleston: 

• Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 8 p.m. Feb. 24;
• Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders at 9 p.m. Feb. 24;
• Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 7 p.m. Feb. 26;
• Former Vice President Joe Biden at 8 p.m. Feb. 26;
• Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 9 p.m. Feb. 26; and, 
• Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 10 p.m. Feb. 26.

Steyer’s week in South Carolina. Billionaire Tom Steyer will hold several events next week before the Democratic primary Feb. 29.

• 12:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in Georgetown. Info. 
• 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in Myrtle Beach. Info. 
• 8 a.m. Feb. 27 in Orangeburg. Info. 
• 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 on Johns Island. Info. 
• 8 a.m. Feb. 28 in Sumter. Info. 

Presidential candidate’s spouses luncheon. A luncheon with spouses of current Democratic presidential candidates is slated for noon Feb. 25 in the Cedar Room in Charleston. More info. 

Final debate before the primary to be held in Charleston. The 10th 2020 Democratic presidential debate is Feb. 25 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. It will be broadcast by CBS.

First in the South Dinner with candidates. Charleston will host the First in the South Dinner 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Charleston Marriott. More info. 

Buttigieg in Columbia. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will attend a Get Out the Vote Town Hall 7-9 p.m. Feb. 28 in Columbia. More info. 

Trump in North Charleston. Incumbent Republican President Donald Trump will hold a Keep America Great Rally 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at North Charleston Coliseum. More info.