The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate

It was U.S. Congressman and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) who was instrumental in bringing an international and political spotlight to not only South Carolina, but to the African American voting potential.

“This is our third debate in South Carolina. We opened up this primary season with a historic debate at South Carolina State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College/University) that people thought would not be capable of hosting a debate of this magnitude, and it did extremely well. I’m told by Google that by 10am the morning after the debate, they got 1.3 million hits on South Carolina State University. That was incredible. We followed with a second debate, this time at The Citadel, and it came out magnificently. For our third debate, we approached the Congressional Black Caucus and asked them to help us, the good people of South Carolina, with our number one industry, tourism. Help up get certain issues, contentious issues, behind us, and I went to Congresswoman Kilpatrick, Chair of The Congressional Black Caucus and to Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chair of The Congressional Black Caucus Institute and I said to them, “As the Institute goes forward with it’s planning for a nationally televised debate, whoever you partner with, please consider a site in South Carolina.” "Brad Dean and the leaders here in Myrtle Beach approached me with an idea of hosting the debate here. I told them that I would do my best, but I would have to have the blessings of Kilpatrick and Thompson.”

The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate

South Carolina was host to three Democratic debates; the first was at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, the second was at The Citadel in Charleston, SC and the third, here in Myrtle Beach.


“A lot of people deserve the credit,” says Brad Dean, President and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, “and we’re delighted to have The Congressional Black Caucus and The Congressional Black Caucus Institute, they have been tremendous partners. But, the person in particular who deserves a lot of gratitude and has been instrumental in bringing this here is Congressman Jim Clyburn. He has done far more for the Myrtle Beach area than we will ever know. When we needed his support in bringing this debate to Myrtle Beach, he stepped up and said, “I will help make this happen.”

The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina played host to two Presidential debates, and their primaries, in which the power of partnerships played a pivotal role.

“We want to make sure, and in the partnership that’s already been developed, that our debate is second to none,” says U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “We want a change, and all of them (the presidential candidates) are talking about change. So we’re ready to be your partner to build a new America.”

The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate

The 2008 Presidential campaigns must have taken a chapter or two from Congresswoman Chisholm’s handbook. Recent CNN polls suggest that the 18-28 year old voters are having their say and putting their vote to use by participating heavily in this presidential election. Here in South Carolina, the African American vote was extremely crucial to, “test the Presidential candidates in a state where nearly half the voters are African American,” says U.S.Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Chair of The Congressional Black Caucus Institue.

“To have the debate January 21st was to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “More significantly, here in South Carolina, from the Institute’s perspective, is that this is an area where a significant number of Democratic voters will be African American.”

The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate

The South Carolina Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic Primary Presidential Debate held at The Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was no doubt one for the history books.

• It was the first Presidential Campaign where the two top frontrunners are an African American and a woman.
• It was held in a state where a vast majority of voters are African American.
• It was held on January 21st, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, which not only helps to refocus on his dream, but it also provided a realization of his dream.
• The City of Myrtle Beach officially recognized MLK day as an federal holiday.
• It was the most highly watched debate in cable history.

The earliest bid for President by an African American AND a woman would be in 1972 by Shirley Chisholm.

Brooklyn New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and her bid for the Unites States Presidency in 1972 shook the male dominant political establishment, fueled the feminist movement and was the first to realize the power and importance in educating, organizing and obtaining the young black vote.