Vice President Biden will be the keynote speaker at a Democratic party fundraising dinner in Michigan tonight. The appearance at Detroit's Cobo Center comes as speculation slowly percolates over a 2016 run for the Oval Office by the vice president, a potential move for which he has not announced his intentions.

The Associated Press has previously reported Biden will also attend a fundraiser in South Carolina next month. Michigan and South Carolina are among a handful of the first states to run their Democratic party primaries each election cycle, and have a strong influence over the rest of the nomination process. These trips couple with a visit to another primary state by Biden last January: Iowa's inaugural ball.

During the 2012 campaign Biden heavily implied he would consider another run.

Tickets for tonight's event costs a minimum $160 per person with tiers of up to $10,500 for large group buys. The gala is being billed as a "Jefferson-Jackson" dinner, named for the two former presidents. The term is commonly fixed to the annual gala dinners for many states' Democratic parties.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin will introduce the vice president this evening. Senator Debbie Stabenow is also expected to attend.