Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb plan to address the South Carolina Democratic Convention on April 25,
CNN reports.
Such appearances are seen as testing the waters of support with a Democratic crowd in an early presidential primary state, CNN said.
The two Democrats are among names being mentioned behind the star wattage of Hillary Clinton as possible candidates for 2016. She is expected to announce her presidential bid later this month.
O'Malley has already spent time in Iowa and New Hampshire, two other crucial states that create early momentum for a presidential primary candidate ahead of a nominating convention, CNN said.
O'Malley has also previously invested time in South Carolina as he helps to raise his profile on a national stage after a successful run as governor from 2007 to 2015. He also led the city of Baltimore as mayor.
Last weekend, he dropped an opening salvo of sorts directed at Clinton, saying his party needed new leaders during an appearance on
ABC's "This Week."
He added sharply: "Let's be honest here. The presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families. It is an awesome and sacred trust to be earned and exercised on behalf of the American people."
His comments set him apart from other possible Democratic candidates who have thus far said little to detract from Clinton's likely bid for the White House.
But with Clinton's email scandal continuing to percolate, it may be that O'Malley sees a window for himself in the race,
The Washington Post said of his new-found boldness.
Wrote the Post's Chris Cillizza in The Fix: "Ramping up the rhetoric is a probing attempt by O'Malley to see whether there really is a plausible path to beat — or at least seriously challenge — Clinton in a primary. Could a liberal's liberal without a famous last name have a chance — if that person was willing to push (and push hard) the idea that Clinton represents an unnecessary compromise of ideals and an unnecessary continuation of the dynastic politics that people say they don't like?"
Webb, a former Navy secretary and Virginia senator from 2007 to 2013, has opened a presidential exploratory committee and hired an Iowa campaign chief. He
told ABC's George Stephanopoulos last month that he felt a strong outpouring of political interest coming his way.
"We've got a lot of support through people coming across emails, Internet," Webb said. "And, you know, for me, we need to be focusing on the dysfunction that's occurred in our economic system and also, when you look at the issue that you were just discussing with the Iran situation, the true constitutional challenges in the relationship between the president and Congress."
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