COLUMBIA, S.C. - Democrats kicked off a weekend of politicking with their annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner fundraiser Friday night. They listed to Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack give a keynote speech and chatted with gubernatorial candidates ahead of their June 13 primary.

As they gathered, the oil was heating at the annual Fish Fry Dinner U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., puts on as a low-budget alternative to the $100-a-plate to $10,000 a table party fundraiser that drew about 750 people.

Lachaln McIntosh, the state party's executive director, said the event raised about $175,000 for the election season ahead.

The Jefferson-Jackson Dinner gave the crowd a chance to meet two gubernatorial candidates: Aiken County Sen. Tommy More and Florence Mayor Frank Willis. The third candidate in the June primary, Columbia lawyer Dennis Aughtry, couldn't attend, McIntosh said.

People also got a good look at Vilsack as he makes the rounds of early primary states and makes up his mind about making a 2008 presidential bid.

Vilsack's speech focused on the need to rebuild a sense of national community, shared sacrifice and the need for national energy and environmental policies.

Americans are working hard, he told the crowd, but they're not realizing the benefits because costs for energy and health care are soaring.

Those costs are "undermining our sense of community and connectedness" and causing people to be less willing to share and sacrifice, Vilsack said.

"We are the party that needs to restore the benefits of the American bargain," Vilsack said.

"It is time for America to return, to inspire, to lead and to provide hope, not just here, but all across the world. And it is up to us. Let's get to work," Vilsack said as he wrapped up his 20 minute speech to a 30-second round of applause.

Peter Hemingway, a 28-year Air Force veteran, liked what he heard, especially the emphasis on the sacrifices military personnel make.

"It really strikes a chord," the Georgetown resident said. "He could have my vote."

But as much as the crowd liked Vilsack, they liked bashing Republican Gov. Mark Sanford more, particularly on his campaign's emphasis on leadership.

Sanford "couldn't lead his way out of a wet paper bag," state Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin said, adding "Mark Sanford is not a leader, he is a pretender."

Vilsack joined in too.

"In my state, we keep hogs on the farm, we don't take them to the Capitol," Vilsack said.

Three years ago, Sanford toted two piglets he said represented pork barrel spending to the doors of the House chamber after being irked by their rapid-fire overrides of budget vetoes.

Vilsack told reporters before his speech he knows plenty of people in South Carolina haven't heard of him.

"The reality is I'm not a famous guy and I'm not a wealthy guy. Some people are trying to figure out whether Vilsack is a laxative or a pickle, much less a governor," Vilsack said.

He said he came to South Carolina to help get a Democratic governor elected, not to lay the groundwork for a 2008 presidential bid.

"If we're able to do that, then we've got a governor for the next two years that can carry that megaphone in the state talking about the Democratic message," Vilsack said. "That's my focus right now."

Vilsack is making all the right moves for a potential bid: raising money in early or key primary states for state parties and candidates and hiring a key adviser for his Heartland PAC, which helps Democratic campaigns and is a vehicle for exploring a White House bid.

He's also been spending time overseas to build depth in foreign policy and last July was named head of the Democratic Leadership Council, a group that helped former President Clinton find his way to the White House.

Vilsack said he has traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and India.

"We will be going to the Middle East to Israel here next month," Vilsack said.

Vilsack isn't the only Democrat coming to South Carolina, which wants to hold onto its first-in-the-South presidential primary.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware has been here already and returns Monday as the lead speaker at the Galivants Ferry Stump in Horry County.