Democratic presidential prospects swarm South Carolina

Even by South Carolina standards, this is a lot.

There's no set date for the state's pivotal 2020 presidential primary. But that's not stopping a half dozen potential Democratic contenders from swarming the state over the next week, connecting with voters and political operatives.

The first-in-the-South primary can be a make or break contest for White House contenders from both parties. In addition, South Carolina's significant black population offers an opportunity for Democratic candidates to test their messages in a way that's not possible in other early-voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire, which have fewer minority voters.

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2018, file photo, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, second from right, talks with Lucas Atkinson, D-Marion, second from left, Rob Williams, D-Darlington, right, and David Weeks, D-Sumter, left, at the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. Home to the first-in-the-South primaries, South Carolina is accustomed to the parade of presidential candidates who frequent the state in hopes of boosting their national credibility. But, with eager Democrats’ open 2020 contest, that competition has begun here early, with candidates lining up visits with a frequency accelerated from years past. (AP PhotoSean Rayford, File)

That's especially important for a party that could field multiple candidates of color and is making diversity an explicit part of its appeal.

A look at what's happening in the Palmetto State, which could be a political ground zero for nearly a year and a half:

BIDEN, SANDERS

FILE - In this Friday, July 23, 2010, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden chats with former U.S. Sen. Ernest Fritz Hollings during the dedication ceremony of the new Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library in Columbia, S.C. Home to the first-in-the-South primaries, South Carolina is accustomed to the parade of presidential candidates who frequent the state in hopes of boosting their national credibility. But, with eager Democrats’ open 2020 contest, that competition has begun here early, with candidates lining up visits with a frequency accelerated from years past. Biden, who has said it’ll be at least January before he decides about 2020, has been keeping an elevated profile in South Carolina this midterm cycle, even for him. (AP PhotoMary Ann Chastain, File)

Long fond of vacationing on Kiawah Island, former Vice President Joe Biden has had close relationships with two of South Carolina's longtime senators, Democrat Ernest Hollings and the late Strom Thurmond, a Republican. Biden eulogized Thurmond at his 2003 funeral.

Biden has said he won't decide on running until at least January, but he's been keeping an elevated profile in the state. He visits Saturday for events with Democratic gubernatorial nominee James Smith and state Senate hopeful Dick Harpootlian. Harpootlian is a longtime Biden adviser who unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to enter the 2016 presidential race.

Biden, 75, has endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Joe Cunningham and even waded into a down-ballot race, backing the party's pick for state treasurer. Earlier this year, he spoke at an NAACP gathering.

Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, another possible Democratic contender, is also returning. On Oct. 20, he'll take part in a rally with the state's arm of Our Revolution, an offshoot of Sanders' campaign. He was soundly defeated in 2016 by ultimate Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, earning just 26% of the vote.

Sanders' visit has made clear that divisions still exist among the state's Democrats following the bruising 2016 primary. The day after his visit was announced, some of the party's young leaders called the trip "extremely selfish" and self-serving, as Sanders hadn't been invited by any candidate on this fall's ballots. One said Sanders would be better off if he "got lost."

State Rep. Justin Bamberg, one of Sanders' biggest South Carolina backers, said the trip was more about continuing to push some of Sanders' top issues, like increasing the minimum wage. "The man has never said he's running for president in 2020," Bamberg said.

THE NEWER FACES

A slew of fresher faces are also introducing themselves to South Carolina.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker headlines a Democratic fundraiser in Orangeburg next week that will include many of the state's most prominent black leaders and activists. Without much of that backing, it's difficult for any Democratic hopeful to have much success in a state where black voters comprised 61 percent of 2016 Democratic primary electorate.

A day later, California Sen. Kamala Harris makes her first trip to South Carolina, with events in Columbia and Greenville. A few days before the midterm election, former Attorney General Eric Holder is set to speak to the Charleston NAACP, the same group Biden addressed earlier this year.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the only senator to back Sanders' 2016 bid, has made several trips so far. He's delivering a keynote to state Democrats' annual convention and attending events with Rep. Jim Clyburn and as an Our Revolution town hall.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has spoken to the Charleston County Democratic Party's Blue Jam and hosted a fundraiser for state Democrats.

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg planned to campaign Friday with Cunningham. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock planned to do the same Saturday. California Rep. Eric Swalwell recently campaigned with another Democratic congressional nominee, Mary Geren.

Nearly a year ago, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and California Rep. Adam Schiff spoke at a party conference. Maryland Rep. John Delaney, the only Democrat who has already launched his 2020 presidential bid, has visited the state multiple times and spoke at Clyburn's event in April. Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer has also made several trips.

A LIBERAL STAR AND A CELEBRITY LAWYER

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren hasn't publicized any trips to South Carolina, but recently sent a fundraising email on behalf of state Democrats. A woman who formerly served as her press secretary is the state party's new communications director.

Michael Avenatti campaigned in the state Friday with Democratic congressional candidate Sean Carrigan. He was attending three fundraisers in South Carolina Friday and planned more stops Saturday including headlining an annual Democratic dinner in Horry Country Saturday night.

Avenatti, who is representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her legal battle with President Donald Trump, has been making trips to Iowa and New Hampshire, where he's met with state-level operatives and sold-out party dinners.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the U.S. administration’s view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Joe Biden and other western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians.

“Absent such a plan, we can’t support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what’s acceptable,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said late Friday at the Sedona Forum, an event in Arizona hosted by the McCain Institute.

Some 1.5 million Palestinians have sheltered in the southern Gaza city as the territory has been ravaged by the war that began on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

The United Nations humanitarian aid agency on Friday said that hundreds of thousands of people would be “at imminent risk of death” if Israel moves forward with the Rafah assault. The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid and is filled with displaced Palestinians, many in densely packed tent camps.

The officials added that the evacuation plan that the Israelis briefed was not finalized and both sides agreed to keep discussing the matter.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that no “comprehensive” plan for a potential Rafah operation has been revealed by the Israelis to the White House. The operation, however, has been discussed during recent calls between Biden and Netanyahu as well as during recent virtual talks with top Israeli and U.S. national security officials.

“We want to make sure that those conversations continue because it is important to protect those Palestinian lives — those innocent lives,” Jean-Pierre said.

The revelation of Israel's continued push to carry out a Rafah operation came as CIA director William Burns arrived Friday in Egypt, where negotiators are trying to seal a cease-fire accord between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas is considering the latest proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release put forward by U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert the Rafah operation.

They have publicly pressed Hamas to accept the terms of the deal that would lead to an extended cease-fire and an exchange of Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7 and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas has said it will send a delegation to Cairo in the coming days for further discussions on the offer, though it has not specified when.

Israel, and its allies, have sought to increase pressure on Hamas on the hostage negotiation. Signaling that Israel continues to move forward with its planning for a Rafah operation could be a tactic to nudge the militants to finalize the deal.

Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israeli forces would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners, and it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on any emerging deal with Hamas.

Blinken visited the region, including Israel, this week and called the latest proposal “extraordinarily generous” and said “the time to act is now.”

In Arizona on Friday, Blinken repeated remarks he made earlier this week that "the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a cease-fire is Hamas.”

The Chahine family prepares to bury two adults and five boys and girls under the age of 16 after an overnight Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 3, 2024. An Israeli strike on the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip killed several people, including children, hospital officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

FILE - Palestinians line up for free food during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Jan. 9, 2024. A top U.N. official said Friday, May 3, 2024, that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine" after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali, File)

Palestinians rescue a woman survived after the Israeli bombardment on a residential building of Abu Alenan family in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, early Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn of the White House as he talks with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Washington, after returning from a trip to North Carolina. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)