State, local Democrats announce Blue Jamboree speaker

South Carolina’s most prominent Democrats took shelter inside the Charleston Maritime Center today to announce that Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will visit Charleston on Oct. 22 for one of the biggest, bluest rallies in the state.

Rep. and Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn praised Wasserman Schultz, particularly for her determined fight against breast cancer, a fight she waged largely in private until going public two years ago.

"I know Debbie Wasserman Shultz will be the catalyst we'll need to get us back to where we need to be," he said. "The South Carolina Democratic party, irrespective of what you may hear to the contrary, we never give up."

On Oct. 22, national, state and local Democrats will participate in the second annual Blue Jamboree, a rally, picnic and get-out-the-vote drive presented by the state Democratic party.

Clyburn said such rallies are crucial as the party seeks to rebuild, particularly because the lack of a presidential race on the Democratic side offers that party fewer opportunities to come together.

State Democratic Chair Dick Harpootlian kicked off today's announcement with a jab at one of his favorite targets, the governor. "The natural disaster of Hurricane Irene is pushing through here," he said, as rain lashed the building. "The unnatural disaster of Nikki Haley remains with us."

Read more in Saturday's editions of The Post and Courier.