TM Public Relations & Governmental Affairs

EDWARDS LATEST TO SET UP S.C. OFFICE

FROM: SCPols.com – A SUPPLEMENT TO CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS MAGAZINE [LINK]
PUBLISHED TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007



By John Boyanoski

South Carolina Correspondent


Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina became the third Democratic presidential candidate to set up an official office in South Carolina Wednesday morning.


Elizabeth Edwards, the candidate’s wife, opened her husband’s office on Taylor Street in Columbia this morning.


With almost seven months until the presidential primary, Edwards joins U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, who have offices in Columbia, and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who has an office in Orangeburg. Obama will be opening a Lowcountry office later this month, as well, making his the first campaign with more than one site.


The proliferation of offices has come much faster in 2008 than it has in past campaigns, said Joe Werner, executive director of the state Democratic Party. That is in part because of the rise in political awareness as well as the wide-open uniqueness of this election with no one from the current White House running.


“I think this will become a little more normal,” he said.


Republican candidates also have been quick to set-up offices.


U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and businessman John Cox have offices in Columbia while former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has an office in Spartanburg.


These physical offices come on top of several of the campaigns creating South Carolina-specific Web sites. So far, McCain, Edwards, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson have set up sites related to South Carolina.


Taft Matney, president of Greenville-based TM Public Relations & Governmental Affairs, said campaign headquarters were once vital to the election process because it provided a physical rally point for volunteers and supporters.


But with more campaigns becoming increasingly tech savvy, Matney doesn’t see the same need. The key is getting to the people now, and not the other way around.


“On the national level, it’s just not as important as actual contact with the people,” he said. “It’s a nicety, but not a necessity.”


John Boyanoski can be reached at jboyanoski@scpols.com.

To stay up-to-date on the latest campaign news, visit all of the sites in the Campaigns & Elections network.


Copyright 2007 Campaigns & Elections magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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