Dems dinner in a nutshell

Here, in a nutshell, is what happened at the Mississippi Democratic Party's Jefferson Jackson Hamer Dinner in Canton:

Highlight of the evening: That, of course, was a speech by Senator Hillary Clinton. She gave many compliments to the state of Mississippi and spoke on issues such as health care, education, and Hurricane Katrina, that are foremost in the minds of many Mississippi Democrats.
For the people seated in the grandstands, there was an additional highlight when the Executive Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party invited them to move to the tables on the floor and eat for free.

The Food: A buffet of catfish and bar-b-q from Penn's.

The crowd: Pretty small for such a large building, but still sufficient to raise ample applause.

Biggest appluase: When Senator Clinton told that crowd that, though Barack Obama was likely to be in favor with Mississippi's Democratic voters, "I want people in Mississippi to know that I'm in favor of you."

Best Joke:
Mississippi Senator Willie Simmons (D-Cleveland), who introduced Senator Clinton, told the crowd that he had overheard a conversation between Senator Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, after Mrs. Clinton told her husband that a man who had waited on them at a gas station had been her boyfriend in high school.
"If you had married him you'd be married to a service station attendant," President Clinton told his wife.
"No, Bill," Senator Clinton responded, "If I had married him, he'd be president."
This joke got a big laugh and prompted the Clinton to say, "That was one of the best introductions I've ever gotten."

Watch the Meridian Star for more on the Jefferson Jackson Hamer Day Dinner and the speech from Senator Clinton.

- Jennifer Jacob
jjacob@themeridianstar.com