Punishment? What punishment?

Remember back in January when South Carolina bucked Republican Party rules and scooted its primary up earlier to maintain its first-in-the-South status? The hammer came down. The Palmetto State's convention delegation was cut in half.

"We understand the penalties," state GOP chair Katon Dawson said during a delegation breakfast earlier this week, Mark Johnson reports.

They also understand the payoff.  South Carolina handed U.S. Sen. John McCain an essential early victory for his march to the nomination, something it couldn't have done without moving the primary. In return, S.C. delegates have been housed in the same hotel as McCain and his staff, along with another state that provided a key early win, New Hampshire. Even McCain's home state delegation from Arizona isn't in the hotel.

South Carolina enjoys prime real estate on the convention floor near the stage, and their daily breakfasts have been peppered with A-list speakers: Cindy McCain, Rudy Giuliani and McCain campaign manager Rick Davis among others.

So, yes, it's safe to say that South Carolina Republicans learned their lesson.

The head of the South Carolina Republican Party will speak in Greensboro.

GOP Chairman Katon Dawson will be a special guest for an evening banquet at the North Carolina Republican Party convention on Friday.

"Chairman Dawson has been a visionary leader for the South Carolina Republican Party as well as a friend to North Carolina Republicans and a voice for consistent, conservative principles on the national stage," said N.C. Chairwoman Linda Daves in a statement. 

The convention will be held Friday through Sunday at the Joseph Koury Convention Center.