For the Republican Party to win the presidency in 2016, it needs to improve its communications style, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina, told an enthused, somewhat rowdy Buncombe County GOP audience Aug. 12 in at The Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville.

Reflecting major interest in Gowdy, who served as keynote speaker and is seen as a potential candidate for speaker of the U.S., the BCGOP’s annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner registered 350 people  — its largest-ever turnout for the event, party spokesman Nathan West said. Last year was previous record with 230 people attending, West added.

Gowdy, who received a sustained standing ovation when he was introduced at the Asheville event, also has played a major role in the hearings about the IRS targeting conservative nonprofits and attacks on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi, Libya.

“One of the examples I give is I have never been persuaded in changing my mind by someone insulting me, so we have to be mindful,” Rowdy told the BCGOP faithful.

“If the goal is to win, and you haven’t won five out of the last six popular votes for president, you might want to reconsider the manner in which you communicate.”

A former prosecutor, Gowdy said Republican candidates — when they talk to voters — should learn a lesson from the way cases are presented in court.

“The jury has to listen to you,” he said. “The voters don’t. If you don’t catch their attention early, or they lose confidence in you, then they tune out. We’ve got to be really thoughtful in how we attempt to persuade.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who served as master of ceremonies, garnered ringing applause when he noted that Republicans control both houses of state General Assembly, as well as the governor’s office.

Besides Gowdy and Forest, big names — local and statewide — in attendance were state Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Arden; U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Denver; state Rep. Nathan Ramsey, R-Fairview; and Susan Tillis, wife of state House Speaker and Senate candidate Thom Tillis.

Incumbent District 3 county Commissioner David King was present, as was his primary challenger Miranda DeBruhl. Also attending was District 2 commissioner candidate Christina Merrill, who will be challenging the winner of the Democratic primary between incumbent Ellen Frost and challenger Carol Peterson.