Democrats Open New Office, Launch 2014 Campaign Season

On Saturday, Democrats from across South Carolina gathered for an open house at the party's new offices on Lady Street in Columbia.

The event also was an occasion for the Democrats to unofficially launch the 2014 campaign season as well as a community service initiative called South Carolina Democrats Care.

Party Chair Jaime Harrison, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-2) and gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Vincent Sheheen spoke to the crowd.

Harrison said that the party's emphasis on service is symbolic of it being the "moral backbone" of the state.

Clyburn said Harrison's success is emblematic of the party's belief in opportunity for everyone, which he said was in opposition to the GOP's view that opportunity only goes to the privileged.

Sheheen said it's time for South Carolina to stop being the butt of jokes of comedians and that he's tired of getting phone calls from friends in other states who ask, "What is wrong with your state?"

So far, Sheheen and Jay Stamper are the only Democrats to declare their intention to run in 2014. Stamper will challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham.

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