The next president of the United States visited Myrtle Beach in January 2008, and certainly dined and perhaps even stayed and played at America’s Beach Playground®. The country’s No. 2 family resort was the site of not just one but two presidential primary debates, a unique distinction.

On Jan. 10, Myrtle Beach hosted the South Carolina Republican Party Presidential Candidates Debate, sponsored by the S.C. GOP and FOX News. The “First in the South” debate was held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, a 250,000-square-foot facility of exhibit halls, ballrooms and meeting rooms owned and operated by the city of Myrtle Beach. To open the debate, The Carolina Opry showcased a national anthem show starring country music singer and recording artist Calvin Gilmore.

On Jan. 21, Myrtle Beach hosted the Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) Democratic Presidential Primary Debate, sponsored by the CBCI and CNN. The debate, which occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was held at The Palace Theatre, a $20 million live entertainment venue that is part of the award-winning dining-shopping-entertainment complex Broadway at the Beach.

More than 1,100 credentialed media attended the debates, generating $7.5 million in broadcast publicity for the Myrtle Beach area. The Democratic debate was the highest-rated debate ever on cable television, watched by 4.9 million viewers according to Nielsen. 

Those who followed the debates in the news undoubtedly noted the extensive coverage of the 2,175 tons of sand sculptures. The sculptures featured likenesses of the presidential candidates’ heads, and photos could be seen in newspapers throughout the United States and Europe and Australia.

Even the destruction of the sculptures brought publicity. Former presidential hopeful and comedian Stephen Colbert showed a stunt on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” that destroyed the Democratic sculpture. A special sculpture of Colbert was also built and aired on the show.

Hosting two presidential debates launched Myrtle Beach into the national and even international limelight, exposing millions to the resort community. In 2008, more groups and individuals, many first-time visitors, are expected to experience first hand why our nation’s leaders placed such confidence in our community to host such politically important events.