The South Carolina Rules

The Democrats have given South Carolina an early primary date of Jan. 29. South Carolina Republicans have unilaterally claimed a primary date that is ten days earlier, a move that could cost them half their convention delegates if the Republican National Committee decides to strictly enforce its rules prohibiting any state from electing delegates before the first Tuesday in February. the risk of penalty is worthwhile, though, for South Carolina Republicans, who fashion themselves as the "New Hampshire of the South."

Yet in early October, there were reports that state Democratic officials, uncomfortable with voting in the Republicans' wake, would ask the national party for permission to also move their primary up to Jan. 19.

South Carolina does not have party registration, so any of the state's 2,495,750 registered voters (as of October 2007) can participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary.