First in the South

My first presidential campaign assignment this season came 452 days before South Carolinians voted in the 2020 presidential primary. The candidate, Billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, would spend $191+ million in advertising and his wife, Kat Taylor, rented a home in Columbia, as the couple concentrated on the First in the South primary. Fittingly, the Tom Steyer election night party was my final assignment of the primary season. It was more fun than the party with Ted Cruz four years before.

Photos by Sean Rayford for Getty Images / NPR / The Boston Globe / The New York Times.

First in the South - King Day at the Dome

Democratic presidential candidates, including Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Tulsi Gabbard and Bernie Sanders, march in the King Day at the Dome Rally in Columbia, SC. Photo by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford (Photo by Sean Rayford for Getty Images)

Clyburn's Fish Fry

A campaign volunteer holds a sign for Joe Biden before the Jim Clyburn Fish Fry in Columbia, SC. (Photo by Sean Rayford for NPR)

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail in South Carolina during a canvassing kickoff event October 27, 2019 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford for Getty Images)

Bernie Sanders on King Day

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders participates in teh King Day at the Dome March and Rally in Columbia, SC. Photo by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford

Campaign trail: Orangeburg County Fairgrounds

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker stand at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds.

Elizabeth Warren visits College of Charleston

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren with a supporter at the College of Charleston.

South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford for Getty Images)

Dave Chappelle for Andrew Yang

Comedian Dave Chappelle works at a phone bank for the Andrew Yang campaign in North Charlsston, SC.

Harris Headquarters

A campaign worker for Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris works in a Columbia, SC campaign office.

Tulsi

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (R-HI) addresses the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Aiken Bunting

A woman waits for the entrance of Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) at a town hall event on August 17, 2019 in Aiken, South Carolina.

Bernie Sanders

Tom

Television reporters during a campaign rally for Democratic Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer

Steyer

Beto Fish Fry

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke show their support for him before Rep. James Clyburn’s Famous Fish Fry.

Elizabeth Warren

Cory Booker at Mother Emanuel

Cory Booker speaks at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

Kamala Harris

Beto

Galivant's Ferry Stump

A woman blocks the sun using a campaign sign to block the setting sun.

Yang vs. Bloomberg

Andrew Yang and Michael Bloomberg

Soul of a Nation

Joe Biden

South Carolina for Cory

Cory Booker

Birthday Party

Yikes, Tom

Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer

Joe Biden

Joe Biden gets a hug.

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar at the Galivant’s Ferry Stump

MAGA Protestor

Security confronts a protestor during the Galivant’s Ferry Stump.

Joe Biden

Moms Demand

Cory Booker listens to members of Moms Demand Action at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

Bernie's Crew

Supporters react to 2020 Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as he addresses the crowd at the Royal Family Life Center on March 14, 2019 in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Hey Joe

Joe Biden

Pinky Promise

Elizabeth Warren makes a pinky promise with a young girl duringa campaign event.

Mayor Pete

Cory Booker

Whoops

SC for Warren