S.C. GOP dinner will feature

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) will headline the South Carolina Republican Party’s May fundraiser, signaling an increasing national profile for the first-term senator.

Corker will speak at the state party’s annual “Silver Elephant Dinner,” CNN reported Wednesday.

Corker’s speech marks a conspicuous appearance in a state frontloaded in the Republican primary calendar, and has featured previous speakers like Ronald Reagan, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Newt Gingrich.

Corker saw his national profile grow with his work mediating negotiations for bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler.

CNN reported that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) twice turned down requests from the South Carolin GOP to headline the dinner.