S.C. presidential primary still first in the South

South Carolina has once again assured its first-in-the-South presidential primary position for another four years, after the convention rules committee adopted its primary schedule this weekend.

The plan would allow New Hampshire and South Carolina to set primary dates in February of 2012, while all other states must wait until after the first week of March or risk penalty.

State party chairman Katon Dawson said that while some states resented S.C.'s early position, the fact the state chose a candidate, John McCain, that has a shot at winning in November has won some of the doubters over.

"It's in solid for four years," Dawson said of the schedule. "We had to muscle our way in. We made some enemies. But we have the right ticket, we have what could win."

U.S. Sen. John McCain's January primary win helped cement him as the front-runner and propelled him to victories in Florida and the Super Tuesday states. The win also continued the state's track record of voting for the eventual Republican nominee in every primary since 1980.