House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at South Carolina Democratic Party dinner
Pelosi was met with staunch criticism and protests from Republicans
Pelosi was met with staunch criticism and protests from Republicans
Pelosi was met with staunch criticism and protests from Republicans
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the keynote speaker at a South Carolina Democratic Party fundraiser Friday, held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville.
Upstate Republicans jumped on the opportunity to criticize the House speaker and unite the GOP.
Hundreds decked in "Make America Great Again" gear gathered outside the hotel to show their support for President Donald Trump hours ahead of Pelosi's arrival.
The event began at 7:30. District 7 state Sen. Karl Allen opened the night, welcoming supporters of the SCDP to the fundraiser.
Pelosi took the stage about an hour into the event as the keynote speaker. She touched on topics ranging from decreasing the gender pay gap to raising the minimum wage and the Trump impeachment inquiry.
“Not any of us came to Congress to impeach a president," Pelosi said. "This is very sad time for our country. It’s a very somber time for our country.”
The chair of Greenville's Democratic Party, Kate Franch, told WYFF News 4 that the event was sold out and expressed her pride for her party.
“We know that Republicans have had a stronghold in Greenville. But Greenville County is changing, and the fact that (Nancy Pelosi's) coming here shows that.”
Outside, however, was a different story. Greenville County Republicans held a "Welcome to South Carolina" event for Pelosi ahead of Pelosi's arrival.
"We want to let people know whenever a San Fransican comes to South Carolina, especially Greenville, the Upstate, to lecture us on who South Carolinians should elect, knowing that a vast majority are conservative, like-minded to Republican principles ... When they bring a liberal to lecture us, we want to show that we don’t really care for that,” Nate Leupp, the chair of Greenville County GOP, said.
Spokesperson for the Republican National Committee Joe Jackson expressed what the protest turnout meant for the GOP in the Upstate.
"It just shows there’s going to be no blue wave here in South Carolina," Jackson said. "Hundreds have come out tonight to show support of our president. I think it’s pretty clear.”