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Democrats to gather in St. Louis Thursday for Truman Dinner

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Democratic Party’s largest event of the year, the second-annual Truman Dinner, is set for Thursday night on the field at Busch Stadium, where a full slate of statewide candidates are expected to speak to their base – and chide their Republican opponents – as they kick off the last leg of their campaigns on the way to November.

Hundreds are expected to show up from across the state for the fund-raising event, according to Missouri Democratic Party executive director Crystal Brinkley. Traditionally, Democratic candidates seeking statewide office speak to party supporters and activists at the event. Last year, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton made an appearance via a taped segment.

“RSVPs are still coming in,” Brinkley said Thursday after she made a final walk-through of the facilities at Busch Stadium. “We’re going to be on the field at Busch so we’re excited. It’s going to be a great event. It’s going to be great weather and high energy.”

Registration is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., followed by a VIP reception at 6:30 p.m. The program and the dinner are set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

This year’s event technically marks the second annual Truman Dinner. Democrats changed the event’s name last year from the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, following suit with other states as party leaders shifted away from negative attention that came from the fact that presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were slave owners.

A general admission ticket was listed as $125 on the party’s web site, with a priority seat listed as $500 and a VIP access tickets costing $1,000 a piece.

In addition to raising money to support candidates, organizers say the event is also about spreading the Democratic message and hearing from candidates as election day approaches.

“It’s a time for Democrats from across the state to convene and see the connection and values we share as we make a push toward November,” said party spokesman David Turner.