Sophomore journalism major Angie Lovelace, freshman
broadcast major Nick Ochsner and Colin Donohue, coordinator
of student media in the School of Communications, traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 10, for the GOP debate in a joint
project between The Pendulum and Phoenix14News.
Candidates in
attendance at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center were former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Tennessee Sen. Ron Paul,
former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John
McCain.
Coming into Thursday’s debate, Huckabee, who has
already claimed victory in the Iowa caucus, was ahead in
South Carolina polls by about five percent. He was leading
McCain, who won New Hampshire’s primary Jan. 8. Romney,
seen as a GOP frontrunner entering election season, recently
pulled his ads in South Carolina to focus his attention on
the Michigan primary, which occurs Jan. 15.
Lovelace, photo editor at The Pendulum, and Ochsner, a
reporter for Phoenix14, reported from a Huckabee rally
outside the convention center and from spin alley after the
debate.
South Carolina Republicans will vote in their state’s
primary Jan. 19.
The debate, which was sponsored by Fox News,
took place just two days after the New Hampshire primary and
five days before the Michigan primary. The Democrats will
hold their debate in Myrtle Beach Jan. 21, and the
state’s Democrats will vote Jan. 26.