Bachmann Plans Berkeley County Stop

Rep. Michele Bachmann will be visiting Daniel Island next week on a statewide tour, officially launching her candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination.

The local event will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Pierce Park Pavilion, 1801 Pierce St. Other stops on Bachmann’s tour include Myrtle Beach, Lexington, Rock Hill, and Greenville.

Berkeley County GOP Chair Tim Callanan said a Bachmann representative was looking for a venue and Daniel Island was a good central location for Charleston area Republicans. Callanan hopes to get more candidates to make Berkeley County stops as they visit the Lowcountry.

This will be one of the first public Charleston visits from a primary contender in several weeks. That can likely be blamed, in part, on the slow start to the 2012 race. “It’s weird this time around,” said Callanan, who is used to seeing a half-dozen contendors by this time. “The candidates are jumping in so late.”

Wall Street Journal's Neil King Jr. points out that Bachmann’s extensive trip in the Palmetto State is a savvy campaign move as other campaigns focus on Iowa and New Hampshire.

GOP operatives in South Carolina have complained for months that no Republican contenders are giving the state proper attention or investing sufficiently in staff and operations there.