PORTLAND, Oregon — As the Democratic National Convention comes to a close, those attending are feeling pumped for the November election, with delegates from Washington and Oregon describing the feeling inside Chicago's United Center as "electric."
“There is this energy and vibe that I haven’t seen since 2008,” said Tanisha Harris, a delegate from Clark County.
Harris pointed to speeches by former president Barack and former first lady Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as highlights of the week thus far, especially the moment between Walz and his children during his speech Wednesday night.
“If you were watching that last night, and you were not moved by that young man’s reaction, saying, 'That’s my father,' something is wrong with you,” Tanisha Harris said.
Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has also been in Chicago this week. Wyden said he has never seen the energy higher with young people in the party.
“I have never seen this kind of excitement," Wyden said. "This is an exciting time for young people who are saying, 'We want to lower the cost of education, we want to make our own healthcare choices, we want to be in a position one day to own a home.' Those are the kind of things the vice president is talking about, and that’s why I believe she is going to win.”
Wyden also described the difference between the Democrats' tax plan with that of former President Trump and J.D. Vance.
“The economy does better when you give relief to working people because they go out and spend it. They go out and spend it on cars and food and clothing. One of my buddies says if you give a tax break to one of those wealthy people, maybe they can go out and buy an island somewhere, but they are not pumping the money back into the economy,” Wyden said.
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at the end of the convention and accept her party's nomination for president Thursday night.
“For those people who are wondering who she is, even though she has been our vice president for three-and-a-half years, and she was a senator and attorney general, she’s going to introduce herself, really, to America and the world,” said Tanisha Harris.