Republican Party Rules to Keep SC First in the South in 2012

State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson says the party's national rules committee has agreed to recommend that South Carolina keep its first-in-the-South primary in 2012.

Dawson told The Post and Courier of Charleston he's glad South Carolina will continue to play a key role in selecting the party's nominee.

State party communications director Rob Godfrey says the rules committee met in New Mexico as part of the annual Republican state chairmen's meeting. The rules committee is recommending that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada continue in the same order in 2012. It's also recommending that Iowa's caucuses be held no sooner than February 1, almost a month later than this year.

Godfrey says the decision is expected to be ratified by the national convention this summer.