{"id":2326618,"date":"2024-08-19T07:12:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T11:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-funeral-to-party-democratic-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-feeling-win-within-reach-washington-examiner-from-funeral-to-party-dnc-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-with-winning-wit\/"},"modified":"2024-08-19T07:16:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T11:16:57","slug":"from-funeral-to-party-democratic-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-feeling-win-within-reach-washington-examiner-from-funeral-to-party-dnc-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-with-winning-wit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-funeral-to-party-democratic-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-feeling-win-within-reach-washington-examiner-from-funeral-to-party-dnc-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-with-winning-wit\/","title":{"rendered":"From \u2018funeral\u2019 to party: Democratic delegates arrive in Chicago feeling win within reach &#8211; Washington Examiner From &#8216;funeral&#8217; to party: DNC delegates arrive in Chicago with winning within reach"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">58<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffrom-funeral-to-party-democratic-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-feeling-win-within-reach-washington-examiner-from-funeral-to-party-dnc-delegates-arrive-in-chicago-with-winning-wit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2326618&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Thousands of Democratic delegates are \u200dgathering in Chicago for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/firm-linked-to-joe-biden-scrubs-website-of-all-china-related-business\/\" title=\"Firm Linked To Joe Biden Scrubs Website Of All China Related Business\">national convention<\/a> that has transformed\u200b from\u200d a perceived &#8220;funeral&#8221; to a celebratory atmosphere as they prepare to nominate Vice President\u2063 Kamala Harris. Many delegates express newfound optimism following President Joe Biden&#8217;s\u200b decision to step aside after a\u200c challenging few\u2063 weeks, including a tough\u200d debate that contributed to \u200bhis declining support.\u2062 <\/p>\n<p>Delegates \u2063believe that with Harris poised to potentially\u200b be the first\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/review-the-presidents-daughter-large-print-by-bill-clinton-and-james-patterson\/\" title=\"REVIEW: \u2018The President\u2019s Daughter\u2019 (Large Print) by Bill Clinton and James Patterson\">woman president<\/a>, the mood has shifted dramatically, with comments likening the event to a joyous\u2063 celebration rather than \u200dsomber uncertainty. While\u200c there is enthusiasm for Harris,\u2062 she must still rally various factions within \u2064the party, \u200bespecially concerning\u200b contentious issues\u2063 like the ongoing conflict in\u2064 Gaza, where protests are expected \u200cduring the convention.<\/p>\n<p>Despite some uncertainty \u200dwith around \u206430 uncommitted \u2063delegates, there \u200dis palpable excitement that mirrors and possibly exceeds the enthusiasm seen at past\u200b conventions, notably during Barack Obama\u2019s candidacy. Many delegates highlight a sense of unity and hope moving forward, \u2062recognizing the importance \u200bof this historic \u2064moment, particularly for women and women of \u2062color in\u200b politics. The convention represents not just a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jan-6-committee-to-hold-public-hearings-chairman-declares-the-public-needs-to-know-what-to-think\/\" title=\"Jan 6 Committee to Hold Public Hearings \u2013 Chairman Declares \u201cThe Public Needs to Know What to Think\u201d\">pivotal political moment<\/a>, but \u200balso a\u2063 significant \u200cmilestone in the push for broader representation in leadership \u200droles.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">From &lsquo;funeral&rsquo; to party: Democratic delegates arrive in Chicago feeling win within reach<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1730868\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Democratic\">Democratic<\/a> delegates have arrived in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Windy City\">Chicago<\/a> for what they expect to be a &ldquo;joyful&rdquo; four-night <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dnc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"national convention\">national convention<\/a> crowning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"national convention\">Vice President Kamala Harris<\/a> as the party&rsquo;s nominee, in contrast with the mood weeks ago that many described as a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/auschwitz-survivor-97-wishes-her-followers-a-peaceful-sabbath-then-gets-hit-with-vicious-hate-online\/\" title=\"Auschwitz Survivor, 97, Wishes Her Followers A Peaceful Sabbath, Then Gets Hit With Vicious Hate Online.\">death march<\/a>&rdquo; to the November election.<\/p>\n<p>Delegates from across the country told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>they feel much more optimistic about the trip to Chicago than they did just a few weeks ago, describing a roller coaster of emotions from President Joe Biden&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/3062993\/debate-disaster-for-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>disastrous debate<\/a> in late June until <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3064997\/joe-biden-bows-out-of-2024-presidential-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>his decision<\/a> to drop out at the end of July.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Following the swap from Biden to Harris, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the mood went from a funeral to a party.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s looking forward to this event, which a month ago looked like it might be a funeral, and now is looking like it&rsquo;s going to be a big party and celebration as we go forward to elect the first woman president,&rdquo; Poloncarz, a New York delegate, told the <em>Washington Examiner.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Poloncarz has been to each Democratic convention since 2004, and he said he believes the enthusiasm for this one is the most he&rsquo;s seen, even beyond 2008 for Barack Obama.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you remember back in 2008 while Obama was the standard-bearer, there was a pretty tough fight between him and Hillary Clinton and others, including Joe Biden, and so not every delegate that was going into that convention was an Obama delegate,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And while we were pretty enthused leaving it, there still wasn&rsquo;t the same unanimity and overall excitement you see going into this convention right now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Workers prepare for next week&rsquo;s Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Harris still has some work to do to bridge the gap among different factions of the party, especially when it comes to Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza. Nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3119755\/anti-israel-network-planning-dnc-protest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>100 organizations<\/a> to protest against Israel are expected to be in Chicago as the war in Gaza reaches 10 months.<\/p>\n<p>There are about 30 uncommitted delegates to the convention of about 4,600, injecting some uncertainty into the proceedings. Harris now must face new obstacles in continuing her campaign&rsquo;s early momentum and appeal to a divided party while also courting enough independent voters to prevail over former President Donald Trump and his MAGA base.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi poses for a picture with President Joe Biden during an Independence Day celebration at the White House. Courtesy: Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;We were agonizing and now we are organizing. We are moving forward in a really happy and exciting way,&rdquo; said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, a delegate from Maryland. &ldquo;We were definitely in a death march in terms of our political situation, and now it looks like we are going to win, although, you know, there&rsquo;s still work to be done.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Biden is scheduled to address the convention Monday night, an opportunity for Democratic delegates to honor the work of one president while balancing embracing a new candidate who they hope will win the White House next.<\/p>\n<p>DuWayne Gregory, a New York delegate, was willing to stick with Biden and was not calling on him to step aside. However, he said he believes the president made the right decision.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think seeing the energy that has erupted since he left is proof positive that people were looking for something different &mdash; a younger generation or newer generation of leadership, and everyone&rsquo;s so excited,&rdquo; Gregory told the <em>Washington Examiner. <\/em>&ldquo;People in Biden&rsquo;s position don&rsquo;t generally make those decisions. So I think it&rsquo;s really a reflection of him, the character he has and putting the country before his own personal ambition.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really impressive and I think all the more reason why I think history will reflect kindly on him,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Michaelle Solages, another New York delegate, said she didn&rsquo;t immediately jump on the Harris bandwagon but was convinced on a Zoom call with 44,000 black women.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They were talking about the historic nature of Harris, what she&rsquo;s done, her record. Having conversations with folks in my community, you know, it made it crystal clear that Harris was the best person,&rdquo; Solanges explained. &ldquo;I realized this is a historic opportunity for us to really elevate a person who&rsquo;s not only has a huge amount of experience as an elected official but also someone who can really, truly represent the values of women.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Irene Bonham, a first-time delegate from Colorado, said she&rsquo;s thrilled to witness history. Harris is only the second woman to make it to the top of a presidential ticket and is the first female of color to do so.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I feel so joyful as a woman seeing this ticket, as someone who is participating in the Democratic process and trying to model what democracy looks like for my daughters. I just feel so excited and I&rsquo;m ready to get to work,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Bonham said she&rsquo;s bound to get emotional watching Harris accept the nomination on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to cry like a baby, and I&rsquo;m proud of it,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is history in the making, and to be in the room where it happens, to be able to tell this story, hopefully to my grandchildren someday, means a lot.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A Monmouth University poll <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_us_081424\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>released<\/a> last week found a jump in enthusiasm among registered Democrats and a notable increase among independents, too. In June, fewer than half of registered Democrats said they were excited about a Biden-Trump rematch. However, that number jumped to 85% in the latest survey, conducted between Aug. 8 and Aug. 12. The excitement among independents also increased from 34% in June to 53% in early August. Registered Republicans remained the same, with 71% in both surveys.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She is bringing so much sunshine to the Democratic Party and not just in California. Look at Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada,&rdquo; said Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik, a delegate from California who also serves as the regional director of the state&rsquo;s Democratic Party. &ldquo;The amount of people who showed up &hellip; spontaneous and organic. Her crowds will start chanting things, and it&rsquo;s like, &lsquo;Woah!&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sandra Lowe, another delegate from California, said the delegation members are fired up that the Democratic nominee hails from their home state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everybody is very excited,&rdquo; said Lowe, who is the former mayor of Sonoma. &ldquo;A lot of people who didn&rsquo;t try to become a delegate are disappointed now because they would have loved to have been there &mdash;&nbsp;a little FOMO going on there.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1730868\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1730868\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From &#8216;funeral&#8217; to celebration: Democratic delegates arrive in Chicago feeling victory is within reach<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of Democratic delegates have gathered in Chicago, anticipating a &#8220;joyful&#8221; four-night national convention that will officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris. This stands in stark contrast to the somber atmosphere just weeks prior, which many likened to a &#8220;death march&#8221; leading up to the November election. Delegates from across the nation shared with the Washington Examiner their renewed optimism about attending the convention, reflecting on a tumultuous emotional journey following President Joe Biden&#8217;s poor debate performance in late June and his subsequent decision to withdraw at the end of July. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz noted that since Biden&#8217;s exit, sentiments have shifted dramatically from despair to excitement. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone\u2019s looking forward to this event, which just a month ago seemed like it might be a funeral; now it feels like it&#8217;s going to be a grand celebration as we aim for electing our first woman president,\u201d said Poloncarz, who has attended every Democratic convention since 2004 and believes this year&#8217;s enthusiasm surpasses even that of 2008 when Barack Obama was nominated.<\/p>\n<p>While there is palpable excitement heading into this convention, Harris still faces challenges uniting various factions within the party\u2014particularly regarding differing views on Israel amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. Nearly 100 organizations are expected to protest against Israel during this time as tensions continue.<\/p>\n<p>With around 30 uncommitted delegates among approximately 4,600 total attendees adding an element of uncertainty, Harris must navigate these complexities while maintaining her campaign momentum and appealing not only to party members but also independent voters crucial for defeating former President Donald Trump and his supporters.<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi from Maryland expressed how sentiments have transformed: \u201cWe were agonizing and now we are organizing. We are moving forward with great enthusiasm.\u201d She acknowledged that while they once felt hopeless politically, there is now optimism about winning\u2014though she recognizes more work lies ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Biden is set to speak at the convention on Monday night\u2014a moment for delegates both to honor his presidency and embrace their new candidate poised for future leadership. New York delegate DuWayne Gregory expressed support for Biden\u2019s decision not only because he remains committed but also because he believes it reflects well on Biden\u2019s character by prioritizing national interests over personal ambition.<\/p>\n<p>Michaelle Solages shared her initial hesitance towards supporting Harris but was swayed after engaging with discussions among thousands of Black women about Harris&#8217;s historic candidacy and qualifications: \u201cIt became clear that she was indeed our best choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>First-time delegate Irene Bonham from Colorado expressed her joy at witnessing history unfold as Harris becomes only the second woman\u2014and first woman of color\u2014to lead a presidential ticket: \u201cI feel so joyful seeing this ticket&#8230; I\u2019m ready to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A recent Monmouth University poll indicated rising enthusiasm among registered Democrats\u2014with excitement levels jumping significantly since June\u2014and independents showing increased interest as well.<\/p>\n<p>Delegates like Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik highlighted how much energy Harris brings not just within California but across key states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan too: \u201cHer crowds are spontaneous; they\u2019re electrifying!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sandra Lowe added that many members of their delegation are thrilled about having their nominee come from California: \u201cThere\u2019s so much excitement here; some people who didn\u2019t become delegates wish they had.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3364,"featured_media":2326619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DNC-ahead-2024-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4387,3685,7705,36253,38521],"class_list":["post-2326618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chicago","tag-democrats","tag-dnc","tag-election2024","tag-politicalparty"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DNC-ahead-2024-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3364"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2326618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326618\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2326619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2326618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2326618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2326618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}