Rick Beltram, Spartanburg County Republican Party’s chairman, was interviewed about Senator McCain’s visit to Spartanburg and his prospects as a presidential candidate. In the 2000 Republican primary Sen. McCain lost by a 62-38 per cent margin in the Spartanburg area. 

South Carolina is expected to host the first presidential primary in the South in 2008. Sen. McCain has not announced that he is running for president in 2008.