COLUMBIA, S.C. -- For Alan Keyes, this year's GOP presidential debate in South Carolina was a far cry from last time.

In 1996, with the debate limited to candidates who finished in the top four in New Hampshire, Keyes did not make the cut and was not allowed in.

The next week in Atlanta, Keyes -- who had threatened a hunger strike after being excluded in South Carolina -- was taken into custody by police when he tried to enter the television station where other GOP candidates were set to debate.

"I have a right to speak," Keyes shouted as police hustled him away in handcuffs.

Keyes said in a TV interview the next day, "This is a disgrace to American democracy, but it's also a threat to the freedom of this country."

This year, he finished fourth in New Hampshire. With Steve Forbes now out of the race, he is one of the three Republican candidates still running -- along with George W. Bush and John McCain.