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Only Two Candidates Signed Up for Tea Party Convention

First-of-its-kind tea party convention to be held Sunday and Monday in Myrtle Beach.

 

The inaugural S.C. Tea Party Convention organizer Joe Dugan isn't ready to call it a snub just yet, but only two of the six GOP presidential nominee hopefuls have accepted invitations to speak to 600 attending tea party leaders from around the state. 

The convention begins Sunday, and continues through Monday in Myrtle Beach. Only Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have signed up for the 20-minute slots set aside for candidates Monday. 

"I would think with so many grassroots leaders and activists coming together … that they'd be banging down our doors," Dugan said. Dugan, chair of the Myrtle Beach Tea Party, has endorsed Gingrich. "I wouldn't call it a snub just yet, time isn't up. I would call it a tremendous lost opportunity."

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was actually the first to accept the invitation, but she has since bowed out of the presidential race.

Despite what appears to be a lack of interest from two-thirds of the GOP field, interest has grown among tea partiers in the state — forcing organizers to make room for up to 600. They originally planned to house 500. 

Dugan conceived of the convention just a few months ago, creating a whirlwind to bring it to fruition. 

The times set aside for presidential candidates remain open at this time, but Dugan said he'll soon fill them up with interesting speakers.

"Give me another example of something like this being done before. This is a first, and five days before the South Carolina primary. If I was running for office, I'd be there early and stay there late," Dugan said.

Related Topics: S.C. Tea Party Convention and South Carolina Primary
What do you think of the four candidates who have yet to accept the invitation? Tell us in the comments.

Ralph

10:38 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012

This Tea Partier is not going to this one sided show. Have you looked at Newt Gingrich's dark side? http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm Is this the best tea party alternative to Obama?

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maizenbluedoc

11:18 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012

I concur. In the past few weeks, the real Gingrich has emerged. Gingrich may very well best BHO in a debate, but he will NOT beat BHO in the general election. Maybe, had Newt managed to contain his anger and vindictiveness, he would have done better, but it is better to see it now than during the national election.

Little Smitty

2:21 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Tea Party movement started from supporters of Ron Paul. It was later hijacked by the Koch brothers with their Tea Party Express, who brought you the likes of Sarah Palin, who requested you vote for candidates pretending to be Tea Party supporters but proved to be otherwise as their votes in Congress have shown. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express even endorsed a candidate for Congress against Ron Paul himself. Now these same confused Tea Party Express supporters want to back Newt for Pres. instead of the true Tea Party candidate Ron Paul? No thanks, I'm not an idiot, nor am I a Koch brothers supporter.

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