http://projects.newsobserver.com/faq/what_is_the_vance_aycock_dinner Comments for "What is the Vance-Aycock dinner?" en http://projects.newsobserver.com/faq/what_is_the_vance_aycock_dinner <div class="field field-type-text field-field-answer"><div class="field-label">Answer:</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item"><p>An annual dinner held in Asheville in October by the state Democratic Party since 1960.</p> <p>The event serves three purposes: Raising money for the party, rallying the Democratic faithful ahead of the November elections and serving as a platform for state candidates.</p> <p>Keynote speakers have included U.S. Sens. John Glenn, Joe Biden and Al Gore; Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter and vice presidential candidate Edmund Muskie. The event is usually held at the historic <a href="http://www.groveparkinn.com/">Grove Park Inn</a>. </p> <p>It was named for former governors <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebulon_Baird_Vance">Zebulon Vance</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Brantley_Aycock">Charles Brantley Aycock</a>, both Democrats.</p> <p>In 2007, it drew controversy when a Republican group <a href="/blogs/gop_group_to_protest_vance_aycock">threatened to protest</a> over Aycock&#39;s role in the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/1898_riots">1898 Wilmington coup</a>. State Treasurer <a href="/dome/profiles/richard_moore">Richard Moore</a>, then a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination, also <a href="/blogs/moore_change_name_of_democratic_dinner">said</a> the name should be changed.</p> <p>The state party decided to look into a name change in January of 2008. </p> <p>In 2008, Democratic presidential nominee <a href="/under_the_dome/profiles/barack_obama">Barack Obama</a> <a href="/under_the_dome/obama_crashes_the_democratic_party">spoke</a> at the dinner while in town <a href="/under_the_dome/obama_to_practice_in_asheville">preparing</a> for the second presidential debate.</p> <p>A similar event, the <a href="/under_the_dome/faq/what_is_the_jefferson_jackson_dinner">Jefferson-Jackson Dinner</a>, is held in Raleigh in the spring. </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-type-text field-field-brief"><div class="field-label">Brief:</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item">An annual dinner held in Asheville in October by the state Democratic Party since 1960.</div></div></div> http://projects.newsobserver.com/faq/what_is_the_vance_aycock_dinner#comment Al Gore Barack Obama Charles Brantley Aycock Democratic Party Edmund Muskie Jimmy Carter Joe Biden John Glenn Richard Moore Under the Dome Vance-Aycock dinner Wilmington Race Riot Zebulon Vance Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:17:52 -0500 ryanteaguebeckwith 3031 at http://projects.newsobserver.com