Donald Trump’s Christmas present to Rock Hill: A new year visit

Local Republicans are getting an early Christmas gift: the announcement that Donald Trump will be campaigning in Rock Hill.

The leading contender for the GOP nomination will be making an appearance in Rock Hill on Jan. 8, one of several swings through the state ahead of the next Republican debate in North Charleston a week later and the GOP presidential primary on Feb. 20.

Rock Hill is listed as an upcoming campaign stop in a “Team Trump” email sent out to supporters on Tuesday.

Winthrop University spokesman Jeff Perez said the university is in talks with the Trump campaign to host Trump’s visit, but no venue has been set. Winthrop has already hosted several presidential candidates on campus this year.

Trump has been the top Republican in national polls for months. A Real Clear Politics average gives Trump a 17 percentage point lead over his closest rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, 35 percent to 18 percent. In South Carolina, Trump had a 9-point lead among GOP voters in the latest Winthrop Poll.

Eight of the 13 remaining GOP candidates have already campaigned in the Rock Hill area in 2015, as did U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker before both dropped out of the race.

On Nov. 6, Winthrop hosted a nationally televised forum with all three Democratic presidential candidates. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also campaigned in Winthrop’s Byrnes Auditorium in September.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Donald Trump’s Christmas present to Rock Hill: A new year visit."