MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) –Several of the Republican Party’s potential presidential candidates will speak on the Grand Strand this weekend for this year’s South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention.
This is the fifth year for the convention at Springmaid Beach Resort and this year’s theme is ‘Whom do we trust to lead this nation.”
Organizers say they expect 1600 people to attend and because of that, the Secret Service among several law enforcement agencies have been working on security for the event.
“It’s a lot of coordination with local law enforcement, with federal law enforcement and with state troopers to make sure we cover all our bases,” Michael Frits, General Manager of Springmaid Resort said.
The event also attracts large crowds during what would normally be a slower time of the year for businesses.
“It is a great economic impact, not only to the hotel but to the entire community. All these folks are obviously bringing money in to Myrtle Beach and you know it’s a great thing for us to be busy this time of the year and have something for our team members to do and something going on in the community that’s interesting,” Frits added.
The three-day event will also feature organizations working to get their name out. “Scents for Soldiers” uses the convention to gain support as it seeks to help wounded soldiers.
“I didn’t really know what to expect at all. We just thought well if somebody like Donald Trump is going to be here then maybe there are some other people who are you know highly visible people that we could actually connect with and we did, which was really great.”
This year’s convention is from January 16- January 18 from 8:30am- 6:30pm. Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Gov. Mike Huckabee and Senator Rick Santorum will all speak.
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