During Katrina, I visited Sheriff Harry Lee, a Democrat and a good friend of mine.

CNN: Transcript of Gov. Jindal's GOP response to Obama speech

But it was the efforts of party operatives like Lee Atwater and Harry Dent that not only created the South Carolina primary in 1980 but also made sure it was the first test in the South.

NPR: Political Junkie: All Eyes Turn to S.C. and Nevada