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It’s @scdp convention weekend, which’ll be the largest single gathering so far of 2020 hopefuls. Tonight I’ll be at @WhipClyburn’s “World Famous Fish Fry,” a SC Democratic politics mainstay that’s become a popular stop on the road to the White House. apnews.com/d6e01e60667d4e…
.@WhipClyburn’s “World Famous Fish Fry” doesn’t start for another hour, but there are already hundreds gathered, with simultaneous chants going on for 2020 hopefuls. Just a sampling, ft. @ewarren & @KamalaHarris supporters.
People are starting to stream in for @WhipClyburn's fish fry, where 21 candidates are expected to speak tonight. Speeches start after Clyburn opens up the floor, sometime after 9 p.m. On the menu? 2.2 tons - yes, tons - of fish, 6400 pieces of bread - & an open bar. 
People are still arriving for @WhipClyburn’s fish fry, where speeches should get under way in the next hour. I’ve covered this event since the 2008 cycle, and it’s fair to say that this year’s is several times larger than ever.
Some candidates, including @BernieSanders, have made their way to @WhipClyburn's fish fry. One by one, they'll have an opportunity to address the thousands of people gathered here. Time limit? A "generous moment," per organizers.
You can watch tonight's events live, thanks to @SCETV, here:
Up first is @BetoORourke, who is recapping what he’s learned during his recent trips through South Carolina. “Thank you for sharing your story with us,” he says.
“Whoever the Democratic nominee is, we have got to stick together and elect a Democrat,” @JoeBiden tells the crowd, to big cheers.
Up next, @CoryBooker imparts some of that same message, saying he’ll tell a “dad joke” and say Democrats need to stick together and “not flounder - let’s get out there and kick some bass.” (Again, this is a fish fry)
Next, @marwilliamson says, “A violent strain of capitalism has infected our government. ... It is time for the people to step in.”
Of Democrats, the next candidate, @ericswalwell, says,” We’re the Avengers. We’re here to save America. The Republicans? That’s The Hunger Games.”
Former Colorado Gov. @Hickenlooper talks about his time visiting South Carolina and his accomplishments in Colorado, including marijuana legalization.
Referencing the Charleston massacre, @JulianCastro pledges he’ll work toward making sure such tragedies never happen again. He also mentions recent police shootings, asking “What about Eric Garner? ... What about Walter Scott?”
“Brothers and sisters, at the end of the day, the one percent - they’ve got a lot of money and a lot of power,” @BernieSanders, getting s big crowd response. “But we’ve got something - 99 percent is a hell of a bigger number than one percent.”
“Working people are the heart of this country,” @BilldeBlasio tells the crowd.
“We have a president in the White House who doesn’t believe in the rule of law,” @MichaelBennet says to the fish fry crowd.
Hitting on her theme of standing up to bullies, @SenGillibrand promises that, as president, “I will take on the battles that other people won’t.”
“It’s time to cross the river of our divides to get to a higher plain in our politics,” @amyklobuchar says, referencing her snowstorm campaign announcement by the river.
“The middle class has been getting screwed now for 40 years,” @TimRyan says. “It’s time for us to reclaim our place.”
“I do not want my 8-month-old daughter growing up in a country defined by Donald Trump,” says @sethmoulton.
“This is the vision of a trickle up economy,” @AndrewYang says, of his plan to give all Americans $1,000 a month.
“I’m living the American dream that my parents came here for,” @WayneMessam says. “But for too many Americans, that dream is slipping away.”
“That same strength, we’ve got to show to stop the war in Iran,” @JayInslee says, referencing prior opposition to the Iraq war.
“We are on a mission,” @JohnDelaney tells the crowd, emphasizing his focus on workers’ rights, “a mission to find the America that has been lost.”
Referencing her “ultra-millionaire” tax proposal, @ewarren says, “Think of what we could do with that money,” like student loan debt cancellation & more money for HBCUs.
“I fully intend to win this election,” @KamalaHarris says, opening her remarks with a call to honor those killed in the Charleston massacre. “With your help, we will get this done.”
“I will bring those values of service above self to the White House,” @TulsiGabbard says, referencing her military service & basic training at SC’s Fort Jackson.
And now something unprecedented so far in this campaign: a class photo with almost all (21) of the Democrats seeking their party’s nomination in 2020.
