Don Fowler, Glenn McCall to square off in post-presidential debate Oct. 16

The University of South Carolina’s McKissick Museum will host a post-presidential debate at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, featuring Don Fowler, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Glenn McCall, Republican National Committeeman of the South Carolina Republican Party.

The debate, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the auditorium on the first floor of the museum. Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, will moderate. It is expected to last an hour.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from the participants on how they see the policies of the two candidates impacting South Carolina and its citizens,” said Lynn Robertson, executive director of McKissick Museum. “They say all politics are local. This will be an opportunity to interact with South Carolina leaders from both of the parties and get their opinions on how the state will both influence and be influenced by the election.”

After the debate, the public is invited to join Fowler, McCall and Bierbauer for a reception and a gallery tour of McKissick Museum’s exhibit, “Carrying the State: Presidential Campaigns and Politics in South Carolina.”

Fowler has held top posts in the Democratic Party in South Carolina and nationally for 40 years. Most notably, he was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 – 97. He continues to play a prominent role as an at-large member of the DNC and a member of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee.

The SC GOP elected McCall, the York County chairman and second vice chairman of the SC GOP, as its Republican National Committeeman in May. McCall is the first black committeeman ever elected from South Carolina and only the second from the South.

The debate is offered in conjunction with the exhibit. Drawing from the university’s extensive political holdings, “Carrying the State” details the rich history and role that the Palmetto State has played in American presidential politics.

For more information about the debate or the “Carrying of the State” exhibit, call contact Ja-Nae Epps at 803-777-7251. For more information about McKissick Museum, visit www.cas.sc.edu/mcks.

“Carrying the State: Presidential Campaigns and Politics in South Carolina,” an exhibit by the University of South Carolina’s McKissick Museum, details the history of presidential politics and campaigning in South Carolina.

The exhibit, which will remain on display through Jan. 24, 2009, features two sections. The first examines the overall history, exploring presidential politics and delving into topics that range from the Nullification Crisis, Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 and the world wars to Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats, voting trends and the rise of the media.

The second section focuses on the 2008 presidential election, voting issues of concern to South Carolinians, the role of new media -- including You Tube -- and online campaigning and candidates’ platforms.

The exhibit features text panels, photo murals and artifacts, as well as a 1970s voting booth to show how voting has changed, and audio recordings that pre-date television.

For more information, visit the Web site: www.cas.sc.edu/mcks.