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Local delegates at the Democratic National Convention say the party is unified as they prepare to join more than 70,000 people tonight in Denver to witness Sen. Barack Obama accept the party’s presidential nomination.
“I can’t even imagine how it will be. I know it will be electrifying. It will be something to behold,” said state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, of Obama’s historic moment. Cobb-Hunter sits on the Democratic National Committee.
Jaime Harrison, the floor director for U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, expects Obama’s acceptance speech to tackle his vision for the nation and dispel criticism the Illinois senator is all rhetoric and no ideas.
“The stakes are high, not just for the United States but the rest of the world,” Harrison said. He believes electing Obama as president would strengthen the world’s view of America.
Dr. Carl Carpenter, Voorhees College’s vice president of academic affairs, said the entire South Carolina delegation has been making phone calls to voters back home urging them to support Democratic candidates.
Carpenter is also serving on task forces at the DNC in areas like health care, education and economic empowerment. Those are issues he says “are pressing to the great state of South Carolina.”
When the delegates return, Carpenter says they will be unified to move the state forward.
On Monday, Cobb-Hunter took a tour of a Colorado charter school with State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jim Rex that left her impressed. She liked that fact that quality schools were a priority in community development and the options existing within the Colorado public school system.
“I have some interest to see if this can be replicated in South Carolina,” she said.
Harrison said he has enjoyed spending time with local delegates and hearing speakers like Clyburn, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at breakfast meetings.
“It’s a great time to connect with friends from South Carolina and other parts of the country,” he said.
Pundits have defined the convention as an opportunity to mend a party fractured after a bitter primary battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. The three local delegates believe that Clinton’s Tuesday address inspired the unity necessary for Democrats to recapture the White House.
Carpenter said the speech encouraged Clinton supporters, “to follow her lead that she is going to be an advocate and proponent of Barack Obama.”
Clinton made it clear it was not about her but about the issues, Cobb-Hunter said.
Harrison thought the Monday appearance of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, was particularly uplifting.
“It made you want to buckle down and fight for the principles of the Democratic Party,” he said.
Cobb-Hunter said the Monday speeches by Kennedy and Michelle Obama brought tears to her eyes.
Obama’s selection of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, as his vice presidential running mate was also universally praised by local delegates.
The veteran educator Carpenter hailed Biden as a strong advocate of education, a foreign policy expert and an experienced leader.
“He can be the bulldog that Sen. Obama needs to put pressure on (Sen. John) McCain,” Harrison said.
Cobb-Hunter said, “I can’t think of a better choice than Joe Biden.”
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@times anddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.