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No cracks in Blue Wall? Top Democrats vow Chicago is ready for convention, despite party divisions
Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster President Joe Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep party contrast.
Minyon Moore, chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference at the Hilton Chicago, Thursday.
News coverage and analysis of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Top state Democratic Party leaders on Thursday vowed “Blue Wall” unity ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago despite party fissures over the war in Gaza and the ongoing migrant crisis — and polls that show President Joe Biden still must gain ground to win key battleground states.
Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep contrast between the visions of the Democratic and Republican parties.
“What we’re going to see in the Republican convention in July in Wisconsin, and in this Democratic convention here in Chicago is a tale of two parties, a tale of two dimensions and a tale of two visions for this country — one that tries to move us back, not just to the 1950s but to the 19th century,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
“On the Republican side, ripping away freedoms that people have fought and died for, and on the Democratic side, a message about growing the economy from the middle and the bottom up and defending freedoms and basic principles that make this country great.”
Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference at the Hilton Chicago on Thursday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
In Michigan, where the legislature is led by Democrats in both chambers, party leaders plan to showcase Biden’s investments in the private sector, their work in strengthening gun laws and in repealing the 1931 abortion ban.
“Democrats in the Midwest and across the nation are focused on protecting freedoms and making real progress,” said Lavora Barnes, Michigan Democratic Party chair.
Hundreds of Democratic Party officials came to Chicago this week for tours and meetings ahead of the Aug. 19-22 convention, including an executive committee on Tuesday to select members of three convention standing committees.
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference Thursday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
At a downtown news conference on Thursday, party leaders were joined by convention chair Minyon Moore, who sought to quell concerns that intra-party divisions over the war in Gaza could derail the convention — and Biden’s campaign. Biden won this year’s Democratic primary in Wisconsin but about 50,000 voters cast a ballot for an “uninstructed” delegation.
In Michigan, while Biden won the state with more than 618,000 votes, more than 100,000 voters cast ballots for “uncommitted,” securing two delegates.
The Democratic National Convention is designated a “National Special Security Event,” meaning the U.S. Secret Service is involved in planning and ensuring safety during the convention. Still, a Monday morning protest near O’Hare International Airport showed demonstrators may be plotting other areas of the city to exercise their First Amendment rights. Forty pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested after cutting off traffic to the airport.
“We are very sensitive to the environment that we’re walking in here in Chicago, and we have read the stories. We have seen the stories, and we have heard the stories. And we know that these protesters are coming,” Moore said. “We’re trying to create an environment where everyone is welcome. We do protect First Amendment rights, but we also want to reassure you that the people are excited about this convention coming. We have 50,000 people coming in because they want to re-nominate Joe Biden.”
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters march northbound on Michigan near. Oak Street, where President Joe Biden attended a fundraising event earlier this month.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
And as members of the Kennedy family endorsed Biden on Thursday in Washington, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualified to appear on Michigan’s ballot as an independent, potentially peeling votes from Biden.
Roger Lau, DNC deputy executive director, said the Biden campaign is “not taking anything for granted” when it comes to Kennedy.
“I think it’s clear that there are only two candidates … Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And our goal at the DNC is to make sure that voters know about that choice, and they know the difference between the two and they know what’s at stake,” Lau said. “We’re not taking anything for granted.”
Biden has thus far avoided talking about Trump’s ongoing criminal trials while on the campaign trail — but made a small quip on Wednesday at a Pennsylvania campaign stop.
“Under my predecessor, who’s a little busy right now, Pennsylvania lost 275,000 jobs,” Biden said.
But Biden senior adviser Louisa Terrell told reporters on Thursday that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to focus on their record — not on Trump’s legal woes.
“I think they are going to get out there and continue to hit the road a lot and talk about both their record — what the vision is and the contrast is, and let the rest of it take care of itself,” Terrell said.
Here’s how a squad of reporters used shoe leather reporting, interviews and public records to reveal Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plans to close a tent city and builda $814,000 fence around it in time for the DNC.
Sun-Times reporter Mitch Armentrout biked about 58 miles while crisscrossing the city during the Democratic National Convention. It’s a great way to work — and to reintroduce yourself to Chicago.
In his first major speech since Kamala Harris’ Democratic campaign trail ended in defeat last month to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, Obama urged supporters at his foundation’s Democracy Forum in the South Loop to reach across the aisle to diverse viewpoints.
A Sun-Times analysis of host committee direct spending found that little was spent in Chicago’s ZIP codes with the lowest average incomes. The most was spent at the United Center and in adjacent Loop and West Loop ZIP codes.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also took to social media, opening the doors of the state to “vulnerable communities” he says face a “new uncertainty” following the election.
Tommy DeLorenzo launched Balloons by Tommy at age 14. In August, his team orchestrated a drop of 100,000 balloons in his honor at the Democratic National Convention. “He was always the life of the party,” his niece said. His husband, Scott, will carry on the business.
The study by Choose Chicago, the city’s marketing arm, focused in part on the direct spending from the two committees responsible for the convention, the Democratic National Convention Committee and the Chicago host committee.
About 30 Northwestern University students, many of whom will be voting in a presidential election for the first time next month, gathered on campus to watch and discuss the debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
The city was expected to permanently close the popular hotel shelter Sunday, weeks after shutting down a highly visible “tent city” ahead of the Democratic National Convention and relocating its residents to the Tremont Hotel.
“I’m going to tell you on this debate tonight, you’re going to hear from the same old, tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling,” Harris said. Her prediction proved true.
Voters in Chicago and Skokie gather to see Kamala Harris and Donald Trump meet for the first — and possibly — last time during the presidential campaign.
Harris criticized Trump for the state of the economy and democracy when he left office, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation and after his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump went after Harris for abandoning some of her past liberal positions and said: “She’s going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat.”
Presidential debates are performances. Trump seems easier to trigger into saying something ridiculous and causing a self-inflicted wound. Harris’ big job is to get voters to get to know her better.
Two months before the convention, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration OK’d “emergency” spending for the massive barrier at what had been one of Chicago’s most visible homeless encampments.
The military said the six were killed shortly before Israeli forces were to rescue them. The bodies were found in a tunnel beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The news sparked calls for mass protests by families of the hostages.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack, died in Gaza. Goldberg-Polin was attending the Nova Music Festival with a friend, who was killed. His parents addressed the DNC in Chicago on Aug. 21.
Retired Chicago Fire Captain Paul McLaughlin tells Sneed the trouble really started that night in August 1968 “when Wallace threw a punch at my father, Fifth District Police Commander Paul McLaughlin.”
Many are enthused about reactions to the handling of the Democratic National Convention and other events, believing positive perceptions will one day pay off.
Amy Jacobson and Dan Proft, her co-host on the conservative talk radio show ‘Chicago’s Morning Answer,’ mimicked the teen’s emotional reaction to his father’s speech at last week’s Democratic National Convention.
Video surveillance of the attack early Friday shows a man wearing a vest emblazoned with the word “officer” and carrying a badge. He pulls out a gun and shoots a 42-year-old man who was leaving the restaurant.
Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism group, gives kudos to city workers, elected leaders, volunteers and everyday Chicagoans who made the Democratic National Convention a hit.
As part of its ambitious sustainability plan, the convention worked with the city and other partners to rescue and donate thousands of meals to Chicago-area churches and nonprofits.
Gov. JB Pritzker on August 20 said he’d be up for a 2-peat: back-to-back conventions. “I’m with him,” Christy George, the executive director of the Chicago DNC’s Host Committee said in an interview with the Sun-Times on Tuesday.
Health officials say they saw no sign of a COVID-19 uptick after the convention, while attendees grumble on social media about getting sick. One union official said he knows at least 14 people who tested positive since attending the convention.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin insists “we aren’t leaving Chicago,” but the feds’ immigration campaign is expected to begin winding down. However, one DHS source said 1,000 agents could return in the spring, up from 250 now.
Bedard has been one of the best forwards in the NHL this season, and Knight one of the best goalies. That’s huge for the Hawks. But Blashill’s coaching shouldn’t be overlooked, either.
The NFL season is one big war of attrition, but especially in the second half of the regular season. And having a resilient, durable quarterback — knock on wood — goes a long way toward winning it.
At O’Hare, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers will get back pay within days of the government reopening, but the FAA’s air traffic reductions will likely continue.
