S.C. may host presidential debate in five months

Want to place bets on where Gov. Bill Richardson will be the weekend of April 27?

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin announced today that his state may host the first presidential debate of the 2008 cycle that weekend, the Associated Press is reporting.

The debate would be tied to an annual dinner on April 27 and the state party convention on April 28 of (yeah, I know it’s early) 2007.

South Carolina’s presidential primary will be held on Jan. 29, 2008. The state’s Republicans have already set May 15, 2007 aside for a GOP presidential candidate debate.

Erwin told the Associated Press an April debate makes sense because serious Democratic contenders should be in the state for the convention that weekend anyway.

“If you don’t want to come participate in our event that weekend, it hurts your chances to secure the Democratic nomination,” he said.

This will barely give Richardson time to finish the 2007 legislative session before he has to begin preparing for a debate.