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Party leaders bring it into focus for delegates
PHILADELPHIA
At its national convention, the Democrats brought out its heavy hitters to tout the experience and ability of Hillary Clinton, the party’s presidential nominee.
Wednesday, the third of a four-day convention in Philadelphia, included speeches from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton’s vice-presidential running mate.
Mahoning Valley delegates to the Democratic National Convention said those speakers and others drove home the point that Clinton is uniquely qualified to be president, while Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is woefully unprepared and unqualified for the position.
Obama “crystallized all we’ve accomplished and the challenges a president faces each and every hour they serve,” said Kathryn DiCristofaro of Niles, a Clinton delegate and chairwoman of the Ohio Women’s Democratic Caucus. “You can never predict what crisis will come across your desk, and there’s no doubt Donald Trump is unfit for office. [Obama] clearly articulates how well- prepared [Clinton] is.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, a Clinton delegate, will speak tonight at the convention during prime time, Democratic officials said Wednesday.
Ryan was among the first members of Congress to endorse Clinton, doing so months before she officially declared her candidacy.
When the original list of convention speakers was released by Democrats last week, it was a surprise that Ryan wasn’t on it.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland who was on Clinton’s short list for vice president, had a prime-time spot Wednesday. He was originally scheduled to address the delegates right before Biden. But Brown’s speech was canceled to allow Biden to start speaking at 9 p.m. Brown was rescheduled to prime time today to address the delegation.
Regarding the president’s speech, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras of Boardman, a Clinton delegate, said: “Obama laid out a case why Trump is too risky to vote for president. I loved his line that we [are] not ruled as a nation.”
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, a Clinton delegate, said, “President Obama delivered an uplifting and optimistic message that cast a stark contrast to the fear-mongering of Donald Trump. This country needs more hope than fear.”
Jaladah Aslam of Austintown, a Clinton delegate, said, “President Obama truly passed the baton while reminding us what a great orator, administrator and inspiration he is. I’m going to miss [him and Biden] dearly.”
As for Biden, Schiavoni said the vice president “understands the challenges that working people face every day, and he made it clear that Donald Trump doesn’t have a clue about what it takes to be president.”
Tom Letson of Warren, a Clinton delegate and former state representative, said Biden “brought their long history together into a sharp focus and framed an acute distinction between her and Donald.”
Kaine used his speech to introduce himself to Democrats, and to draw a comparison between Clinton and Trump, whom he openly mocked.
He said: “Hillary’s passion is kids and families. Donald Trump has a passion, too – it’s himself.”
Trump’s campaign sent numerous emails to the media Wednesday criticizing the speakers at the convention, saying Clinton and Obama have done a terrible job on both foreign and domestic issues.
Wednesday “was a sad night for the Democratic Party,” Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior policy adviser, said in a prepared statement. “They offered no solutions for the problems facing America; in fact, they pretended these problems don’t exist.”
Ryan said, “Kaine made a very lawyerly case for Hillary and against Trump.”
The evening’s speakers made a “strong rebuke of what Donald Trump stands for,” Ryan added.
“Everyone sitting around me was really impressed with Kaine, turning and saying, ‘I really like him,’” DiCristofaro said. I “thought he did a great job explaining he started public service at [the] local level and gained experience. Dangerous Donald is not what we need.”
Betras said, “Kaine has shown himself to be uniquely qualified to take the battle to Trump.”
Schiavoni added: “Tim Kaine has the knowledge, experience and temperament to be an outstanding vice president from day one.”
Clinton and Kaine will attend a rally Saturday night, two days after the convention concludes, at Youngstown’s East High School.