CHICAGO, IL (WZMQ) — High profile Democrats rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris on day three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D- PA) and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were among those energizing delegates and attendees in the United Center Wednesday evening. Influential Democrats, including Oprah Winfrey, also rallied the crowd before Gov. Tim Walz (D- MN), the Democratic nominee for Vice President, addressed the nation.
“It’s been an exciting week,” said Tony Tollefson, a Michigan delegate from Marquette representing the U.P. in Chicago.
WZMQ 19 News caught up with Tollefson at a Michigan Democratic Party breakfast Weds morning. He said he’s excited to build support for a positive campaign, focused on the future.
“It’s very clear- people have a choice. And what is happening with the Harris-Walz ticket is that we’re looking forward, it’s going to be positive. People want to have things that are going to be normal, that they understand, versus chaos and divisiveness. I think that’s a very clear choice,” said Tollefson.
Speakers at the breakfast honored Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow who will be stepping down after more than two decades in the U.S. Senate.
Stabenow spoke with our team at the convention about the election and electing Democrats up and down the ballot in November.
Stabenow, who was the first woman from Michigan elected to the Senate, told our team it’s time for the first female president of the United States.
“I think it’s time,” said Stabenow. “When I started out, there was, you know, we were opening the basic doors at the beginning,” said Stabenow. “I hope we’re now at a point certainly in Michigan, where the leadership of the state is all women, that we get beyond should it be a woman? And we say, ‘are they smart? Are they capable? Do they have the right values?’ And the answer to all those things is yes,” she added.
Stabenow told WZMQ 19 News that Kamala Harris is qualified to lead the nation and unite Democrats and the nation.
“Kamala is thoughtful, she listens, she knows that there are differing opinions and she’s very respectful of that. There are some very thorny issues, heartfelt issues, but she’s the one who cares,” said Stabenow. “She’s totally prepared coming in as Vice President. She’s got the right values. I worked with her as a senator, she was always talking about the fact we need to focus on the things that keep people up at 3:00 in the morning, like their housing and jobs and health care and education for their kids,” Stabenow added.
Harris will officially accept her party’s nomination on Thursday evening.
