February 11, 2009 4:57 PM
An Electric Night For South Carolina Dems
Signs of Democratic enthusiasm about the 2008 election are not hard to find these days. On the fundraising front, seven Democratic presidential candidates raised nearly $25 million more in the first three months of this year than 11 Republican candidates. Polling reflects the confidence and the corresponding nervousness within the GOP: A recent CBS News poll found that 61 percent of registered voters — including 36 percent of Republicans surveyed — thought a Democrat would be elected in November 2008.
But those dry statistics don't capture the kind of energy and excitement on display last Friday night in Columbia, S.C., following the party's Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner. For well over a decade, Rep. Jim Clyburn has hosted a fish fry following the dinner as a way to reward campaign volunteers and party activists unable to afford a ticket to the fund-raiser.
As South Carolina's influence in the presidential nominating system has grown, so has the size and influence of Clyburn's event. According to the congressman's office. this year's event was the largest ever, with more than 2,000 activists estimated to have shown up in the lower level of a parking garage for breaded whiting, Sunbeam bread and cold beer or soda. While Clyburn led the crowd in the Electric Slide late in the evening, the real electricity surrounded the six presidential candidates who showed up earlier.
Just as Clyburn finished addressing reporters about the importance of all the activity surrounding the party last week — which included the first nationally televised Democratic presidential debate — shouts and chants erupted as Illinois Sen. Barack Obama waded through the crowd, shaking hands and all but disappearing in a throng of activists and the digital cameras they wielded.
Moments later, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton burst into crowd trailed by two dozen or so sign-waving supporters loudly announcing their arrival. People pushed in to get their pictures and reach out for a handshake or a quick hug. No sooner had Clinton approached the small riser where the candidates would address the crowd than former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards appeared, followed by the drum line of the Columbia High School marching band, whose deafening beat continued while the candidate greeted well-wishers.
In quite fashion compared to the rock-star entrances and crowd response to those three, the presence of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens., Joe Biden and Chris Dodd went unacknowledged until they stepped up on the platform. But that didn't mean Democrats in the room weren't happy to see them — each received a loud burst of applause when they finally emerged from the mass of people in front of the stage.
Competing chants of one candidate over another were absent as the crowd reveled in one of the most impressive group of potential nominees Democrats have seen. And while the decibel level may have been slightly higher for the three more recognizable figures on stage, all the speakers were forced to nearly shout into the microphone to be heard over the crowd noise. The theme from the dais, repeated by several of the candidates, was that the next president of the United States was standing on that stage. As Obama put it, this may be a competition for quarterback, but "we're all on the same team."
The event, hyped as "Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry," lived up to its billing this year. For most office seekers, it's an event they can't afford to skip if they hope to compete in for the state's primary voters, currently slated to as the fourth state to vote for Democrats on January 29 of next year. Because of South Carolina's large African-American population — blacks make up some 29% of South Carolina's population and are expected to account for up to half of Democratic primary voters — Clyburn's position as the highest-ranking African American in the House has made his the most sought-after endorsement in the state.
Clyburn says he won't make an endorsement until closer to the primary, if he does at all. In 2004, he backed former Rep. Richard Gephardt, who dropped out of the race before South Carolina even voted. Instead, the state's power broker spent his time at last week's events promoting his state and mostly praising what he described as "one of the most exciting fields" his party has ever assembled.
Likewise, those who stopped by the fish fry were far more in the mood for a celebration about Democratic prospects overall than internal comparisons. Trying to shout above the din, Clinton said, "I've been all over the world, I've been to all kinds of political events and I think I can honestly say that I've never seen anything quite like Jim Clyburn's fish fry!" Judging by the sheer volume of cheers coming out of that parking garage in downtown Columbia last Friday night, these Democrats, at least, have never seen anything quite like this field of candidates.
By Vaughn Ververs
But those dry statistics don't capture the kind of energy and excitement on display last Friday night in Columbia, S.C., following the party's Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner. For well over a decade, Rep. Jim Clyburn has hosted a fish fry following the dinner as a way to reward campaign volunteers and party activists unable to afford a ticket to the fund-raiser.
As South Carolina's influence in the presidential nominating system has grown, so has the size and influence of Clyburn's event. According to the congressman's office. this year's event was the largest ever, with more than 2,000 activists estimated to have shown up in the lower level of a parking garage for breaded whiting, Sunbeam bread and cold beer or soda. While Clyburn led the crowd in the Electric Slide late in the evening, the real electricity surrounded the six presidential candidates who showed up earlier.
Just as Clyburn finished addressing reporters about the importance of all the activity surrounding the party last week — which included the first nationally televised Democratic presidential debate — shouts and chants erupted as Illinois Sen. Barack Obama waded through the crowd, shaking hands and all but disappearing in a throng of activists and the digital cameras they wielded.
Moments later, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton burst into crowd trailed by two dozen or so sign-waving supporters loudly announcing their arrival. People pushed in to get their pictures and reach out for a handshake or a quick hug. No sooner had Clinton approached the small riser where the candidates would address the crowd than former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards appeared, followed by the drum line of the Columbia High School marching band, whose deafening beat continued while the candidate greeted well-wishers.
In quite fashion compared to the rock-star entrances and crowd response to those three, the presence of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens., Joe Biden and Chris Dodd went unacknowledged until they stepped up on the platform. But that didn't mean Democrats in the room weren't happy to see them — each received a loud burst of applause when they finally emerged from the mass of people in front of the stage.
Competing chants of one candidate over another were absent as the crowd reveled in one of the most impressive group of potential nominees Democrats have seen. And while the decibel level may have been slightly higher for the three more recognizable figures on stage, all the speakers were forced to nearly shout into the microphone to be heard over the crowd noise. The theme from the dais, repeated by several of the candidates, was that the next president of the United States was standing on that stage. As Obama put it, this may be a competition for quarterback, but "we're all on the same team."
The event, hyped as "Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry," lived up to its billing this year. For most office seekers, it's an event they can't afford to skip if they hope to compete in for the state's primary voters, currently slated to as the fourth state to vote for Democrats on January 29 of next year. Because of South Carolina's large African-American population — blacks make up some 29% of South Carolina's population and are expected to account for up to half of Democratic primary voters — Clyburn's position as the highest-ranking African American in the House has made his the most sought-after endorsement in the state.
Clyburn says he won't make an endorsement until closer to the primary, if he does at all. In 2004, he backed former Rep. Richard Gephardt, who dropped out of the race before South Carolina even voted. Instead, the state's power broker spent his time at last week's events promoting his state and mostly praising what he described as "one of the most exciting fields" his party has ever assembled.
Likewise, those who stopped by the fish fry were far more in the mood for a celebration about Democratic prospects overall than internal comparisons. Trying to shout above the din, Clinton said, "I've been all over the world, I've been to all kinds of political events and I think I can honestly say that I've never seen anything quite like Jim Clyburn's fish fry!" Judging by the sheer volume of cheers coming out of that parking garage in downtown Columbia last Friday night, these Democrats, at least, have never seen anything quite like this field of candidates.
By Vaughn Ververs
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved.
