U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn spoke to S.C. delegates Wednesday morning. Credit: Danielle Blyn
Editor’s Note: Special correspondent Danielle Blyn is providing updated coverage throughout the week from the Democratic National Convention.
CHICAGO, updated below | A room filled with South Carolina Democratic delegates buzzed Wednesday morning after Tuesday night’s colorful and joyful roll call vote and celebration of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party presidential nominee.
Conversation in the coffee line highlighted former First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech and the roll call dance party that filled the breakfast room, shared today with the Tennessee Democratic Party.
A man who has been making the rounds all week made his first appearance at a breakfast: U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. Speaking to a focused S.C.-Tennessee coalition, Clyburn looked comfortable in a tan Hawaiian shirt and black sneakers. He focused on the work that Southern states like S.C.’s neighbor to the north did since 2008 to become more blue.
Clyburn illustrated a story of what America is, and how it can be made better.
“This is not a perfect country, but it is a great country,” Clyburn said. “We are not in need of being made great. You’ve heard me say it too often.
“We’ve got to work together to make the greatness of this country accessible and affordable to all Americans. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Other speakers at the joint S.C.-Tennessee breakfast had strong words about the impact the two red southern states will have on the election.
“This is going to be the takeover, and you know what I’m so excited about?” asked Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. “Can I tell y’all what makes me really smile, is that come November when Donald Trump loses, he’s gonna think to himself, ‘I cannot believe I lost because I lost Tennessee and because I lost South Carolina.’”
Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, quoted from Harriss’ campaign when she originally ran for president in 2020.
“As we get the politics right, let’s make sure that we understand our value,” Johnson said. “And that we make sure that our hearts are open, always remain with the people.”
Johnson also commented on how hard it has been for him to watch the Republican Party these past four years.
“It’s painful, isn’t it?” Johnson asked. “The only thing that’s more painful than watching the Republican Party is breakdancing in the Summer Olympics.”
Pizza and politics
Updated, 7:30 p.m. | Wednesday, the third day of the convention, has been packed with lots of talk about the exciting end to night two, whose keynote speakers have left people talking even more than 12 hours later.
“My favorite speech so far was Michelle Obama,” said Bre Spaulding, a political consultant and delegate from Richland County. “I’ve been texting friends and family and they’re just like, ‘She was amazing.’ I can’t wait to go back and watch it because we missed so much of it because we’re yelling the entire time.”
Spaulding isn’t alone. When Spain, the SCDP chair, asked delegates what their favorite part of the night was, the overwhelming response was Michelle Obama.
It’s been a week of fun fashion, food and education for the delegates. Spaudling has been learning a lot this week, inside and outside official convention events.
“You gotta have some snacks, you just don’t know,” Spaulding said. “Things change, people move around, you can’t get where you going, the buses get lost. But stay calm, this is going to be a crazy day.”
Spaudling’s favorite snack so far: the deep dish pizza that she DoorDashed Wednesday at 2 a.m. after attending an afterparty at the House of Blues.
After the week is over, Spaudling said she will take messages back to Richland County, collecting all the training and speeches she’s been able to attend throughout the week.
“It takes all of us,” Spaudling said. “And letting people know from this experience that it takes everybody. Everyone’s busy. So don’t use that as an excuse not to make a difference or not to do your job. So we all have, as [Jim] Clyburn says, we all have a role to play.”
Danielle Blyn, a junior political science and journalism student at Syracuse University, will be reporting from Chicago during the convention for the Charleston City Paper. She is covering the DNC as part of a program with Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Born and raised in southern California, she says she hopes to move to Washington, D.C., to pursue a career covering the White House.
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