Stump meeting Tuesday
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

With just five days until South Carolina's Republican Party Primary, only one presidential hopeful has committed to attend Tuesday's stump meeting at the Gaffney Elk's Lodge.

Cap Fending, a little known presidential candidate from Georgia, received just 13 votes in the recent New Hampshire Primary. He is the only candidate who is planning on coming here.

Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley will attend the event on behalf of Republican Party presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Most major campaigns are sending a representative.

The event will kickoff at 6 p.m. with a meet-and-greet session. Speeches start at 7 p.m.

The Cherokee County Republican Party is sponsoring the stump meeting.

While the guest list is missing candidates, the event will feature some star power.

Beasley served one term as governor from 1995 until 1999.

After his term as governor, he served as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. He ran for the U.S. Senate against congressman Jim DeMint in 2004.

Seventh Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy will speak on behalf of presidential candidate John McCain.

The national campaign for Rudy Giuliani is sending former South Carolina Republican Party chairman Barry Wynn, who played an active role in the South Carolina campaigns for Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Christian radio show host Rev. Chuck Baldwin will represent Texas Congressman Ron Paul.

Former S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman will speak on behalf of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Dean Allen will represent the presidential campaign of Dr. Hugh Cort.

Organizers are still waiting to hear from the campaign of former Tennessee U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson.