DeMint and Clyburn Feted While Cruz and Biden Stir 2016 Talk

The annual fundraising dinners of the Republican and Democratic Parties had plenty in common this year. Both honored longtime advocates for the respective causes and both attracted speakers that generated buzz about the 2016 Presidential race.

The Democrats’ Jefferson-Jackson Dinner drew its largest crowd ever and Vice President Joe Biden to honor Rep. Jim Clyburn for his 20 years of service in Congress.

Biden acknowledged that his appearance at the event was sure to fuel speculation about his intentions in 2016.

While giving lengthy tributes to Clyburn and former Sen. Fritz Hollings, Biden delivered a full-throated defense of traditional Democratic issues. He decried the Republicans war on the middle class and poor, in addition to citing some of his own accomplishments while serving under Barack Obama.

Prior to Biden’s remarks, gubernatorial candidate Sen. Vincent Sheheen spoke and a video was presented as a tribute to Clyburn. Among those appearing in the video were Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi.

A short drive away, the Republicans were holding their annual Silver Elephant Dinner which was a tribute to former Sen. Jim DeMint, who resigned unexpectedly last December to lead the Heritage Foundation.

Like Clyburn, DeMint was also honored, in part, with a video.

The keynote speaker for the GOP was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a DeMint protégé, who earlier in the day spoke at the NRA Convention in Houston. Demint’s Senate Conservative Fund was pivotal in Cruz’s election in November.

After just four months in office, Cruz has grabbed a several years worth of headlines and done little to tamp down speculation about his own ambitions.

He, along with Rand Paul of Kentucky, has quickly become a darling of the more conservative wing of the GOP.

While earning plenty of attention, Cruz has also rubbed some the wrong way—including his fellow Republicans with some provocative comments. He told the Silver Elephant audience that, “"Our freedom is in jeopardy in this country."

Cruz, who is Hispanic, also plans to oppose the immigration bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham.

That may be why Graham’s response to a question about Cruz from The Huffington Post was somewhat less than enthusiastic. Graham said, “"I don't know what Ted's ambitions are. I think he's got a lot of talent. The first thing he's got to prove to the country, and to people in Texas, is that he can, you know, throw a punch and also solve a problem. Throwing a punch is important in politics. But you also gotta show that you can solve a problem.”

After the dinners many, including a few Republicans, headed to the Clyburn Fish Fry, where Biden briefly addressed the audience.

On Saturday, the parties will have their annual conventions and will elect officers for the next two years.

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