Duncan Hunter’s Campaign Commits to Straw Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2007
Contact: Tom Swatzel (843) 357-1673

GEORGETOWN--Georgetown County Republican Party Chairman Tom Swatzel announced today that presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter-CA will be represented by his state campaign chairman Mike Dixon at the party's presidential primary straw poll on Saturday.

"Duncan Hunter has done well in this state, finishing in a first place tie with McCain and Giuliani in the Spartanburg County straw poll several months ago. We are pleased that he will be represented by Mike Dixon, a long time GOP activist and former state fourth congressional district Republican Party chairman," Swatzel said.

A number of presidential campaigns or committees have committed to the event including Senator Fred Thompson's, who will be represented by upstate Congressman Gresham Barrett, and Congressman Ron Paul's, whose representative is yet to be named. Presidential candidate Daniel Gilbert has also announced that he will attend the event. Swatzel says he is in discussions with the other campaigns and will have additional announcements soon.

He announced on Friday that nearly 200 tickets have already been sold for the event.

All eleven of the active presidential candidates recognized on the state Republican party web site- plus Thompson, who is expected to formally announce his candidacy soon-have been invited to the event, which will be held in the Waccamaw High School auditorium in Pawleys Island.

The event will start at 11 a.m. with a barbeque lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. Candidates or their representatives will begin speaking at 12:30 p.m. and will be allowed up to 10 minutes each. It is anticipated voting will be conducted at about 3 p.m.

Tickets to participate in the straw poll event are $10 and include the barbeque lunch. Straw poll voters must be at least 18 years old by November 2008 and have a South Carolina driver's license. Tickets for children 12 and under are $5.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Pawleys Island Supply, 10460 Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island; the Offices of David Hood, 407 Church Street in Georgetown; or Capt. Dick's Marina, 4123 Business Highway 17 in Murrells Inlet.