An Electric Night For South Carolina Dems

Democratic Activists Celebrate The Field At Raucous Fish Fry

(CBS)  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."

[realpatriot1]

us_infidel,

I don't know what Hillary's name is today(and frankly, I don't care).

I do know that Cheney is still the *** and Bush is still the drunken traitorous lying coward.

[infidel_us]

May 2, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - Jet-setting Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton is a fussy frequent flier who used three different planes in a single day during a recent campaign swing through South Carolina.

The former first lady even grounded one aircraft -a chartered Gulfstream II - in Columbia, S.C., last Friday, demanding a swankier Gulfstream III replacement for a flight out west.

"She didn't like the configuration of the cabin," an aviation source familiar with Clinton's travel told The Post.

What's Hillary's name, today??? :)

[infidel_us]

From The Sunday Times
April 29, 2007

"Watergate reporter demolishes Hillary%u2019s career story. With the thoroughness for which he is famous, Bernstein spoke to more than 200 of Clinton%u2019s friends, colleagues and adversaries. He stops short of accusing the New York senator of blatantly lying about her past, but has unearthed examples of where she has played fast and loose with the facts about her %u201Cpersonal and political life%u201D, according to Knopf.

The book could revive the explosive charge, made earlier this year by David Geffen, a former Clinton donor and Hollywood mogul, that %u201Cthe Clintons lie with such ease, it%u2019s troubling%u201D."

She said, in her best fake southern accent,
"I can honestly say that I've never seen anything quite like Jim Clyburn%u2019s fish fry!"
Hillary Clinton (not Rodham)

[huskerarmy]

"go ahead all you suckers. vote for anyone of them and we will never see the end..."
Posted by forthepeopl1
And end to the Bush regime will be a nice place to start.

[forthepeopl1]

go ahead all you suckers. vote for anyone of them and we will never see the end...

that goes for reps to..

need new blood in the house...