State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, one of Indiana’s delegates for the Democratic National Convention, said the moment of the convention that moved her the most was a moment that inspired her granddaughters.
Actress Kerry Washington and Vice President Kamala Harris’s two young nieces took the stage Thursday night to teach the crowd – and those watching at home – how to pronounce Harris’s first name. They broke it down like this: Say “comma” like a part of a sentence and then “la” like singing “la, la, la.”
Jackson has granddaughters who are the same age as Harris’ nieces, and the first thing they told her over the phone Friday morning was how seeing young girls like them on stage was inspiring, she said.
“They were watching and that was exciting for them,” Jackson said. “When they saw them, they said, ‘We can do something.’”
The Democratic National Convention ended Thursday night with Harris delivering a powerful speech and accepting her party’s nomination for presidential candidate. The convention solidified Harris’ candidacy for president and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s candidacy as vice president.
The four-day event was filled with prime-time speeches from President Joe Biden, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, and many other politicians.
It also featured speeches from those who lost loved ones to gun violence, the parents of a U.S. man who was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, and personal stories from women about how abortion bans recently implemented since the reversal of Roe v. Wade have impacted them.
Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Wieser said the 2024 Democratic National Convention was his fourth convention and by far the most moving.
“I’ve never felt anything like that. So many people from so many cultures who had the same enthusiasm and excitement, it was just remarkable,” Wieser said.
When the Indiana delegates cast their vote for Harris and Walz, Wieser said it was an interesting dynamic since the state legislature has a Republican supermajority and the state has voted Republican for governor and president in recent years.
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said he’s been to six other conventions, and this year’s convention was the most meaningful.
“I think we can turn Indiana blue again, like we did in 2008 with Barack Obama,” Smith said. “I was just humbled to represent the Democrats in the First District.”
Wieser said he enjoyed the speeches from Harris’ sister and people who worked with her over the years because their stories illustrated who Harris is as a person. When Harris walked out on stage, Wieser said a roar took over the room.
Watching Harris’ speech in person “was like, and even better than” watching the final game of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup championship, Wieser said.
“She just nailed it. I wasn’t surprised, but she did just nail it,” Wieser said.
In her speech, Harris showed the country that she’s ready to be president, Jackson said. Smith agreed.
“Kamala has grown significantly since she ran for president four years ago,” Smith said. “Her policies are in sync with the people.”
Michelle and Barack Obama addressed the convention on Tuesday, which Smith said left him feeling like he had just walked out of Sunday service.
“Both of those speeches set me on fire,” Smith said.
During both Obama speeches, Jackson said where she was sitting everyone was listening intently.
“You could hear a pin drop. Everyone was focused and on the edge of their seats,” Jackson said.
Hillary Clinton’s convention speech, while likely a bittersweet moment for her as a former Democratic presidential candidate nominee, was the best speech of her career, Wieser said.
“She was in her element,” Wieser said. “She had her game on.”
When Walz accepted the nomination for vice president Wednesday, Jackson said she enjoyed learning about his life, from being a teacher and football coach to his service in the National Guard before his career in politics.
But what Jackson liked most was how Walz talked about growing up in a small town and the importance of people helping each other out.
“People around me were saying, ‘I like that guy.’ I have to agree, I felt the same way,” Jackson said.
Outside of the prime-time speeches, the convention offered opportunities for unity, Jackson said. While on the bus traveling to the United Center, where the convention was held, or while walking through the halls between sessions and speeches, Jackson enjoyed meeting fellow Democrats and networking.
The Indiana delegates sat next to the delegates from New Mexico, Wieser said, and one night the New Mexico delegates didn’t have enough seats. When the Hoosier delegates noticed, they let some of the New Mexico delegates sit in their section.
The following morning, a New Mexico congresswoman came to the Indiana delegate breakfast to thank them for that gesture and gave them freshly minted pennies from New Mexico, Wieser said.
“These things really inspire me,” Wieser said. “There’s a sense of unity.”
The convention left him feeling exhilarated, excited and motivated, Smith said. But Smith said it also made him realize that this election is between Harris, who has expressed she will fight for the country’s future, and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump, who has shown his focus is on himself and his allies.
Smith said he would hate to see the country elect Trump and then regret it years later because of the policies he would likely implement.
“Everyone needs to be a part of this process to save our nation,” Smith said. “The handwriting is on the wall, and we have to get away from Donald Trump.”
Wieser said he was pleased to see the Democratic Party underscore how it is focused on moving the country forward while the Republican Party is focused on moving the country in reverse.
“I consider this the most important election of our lifetime. When you get thousands of people gathered in that regard, it gets ruckus and loud,” Wieser said. “The patriotism you could feel, it was overwhelming.”
Jackson said she enjoyed spending time with fellow Democrats celebrating Harris’s historic nomination. Now, it’s time to get to work, she said.
“I also understand how important it is to bring this excitement home and to get to work to get the votes out,” Jackson said.
akukulka@post-trib.com
