PHILADELPHIA — Despite chaotic moments during the first days of the Democratic National Convention, North Carolina Democrats are looking forward to Hillary Clinton’s nomination acceptance speech Thursday evening.
About 40 percent of the state’s convention delegation is made up of Sanders delegates. Some of the Vermont senator’s hardcore ardent supporters at the convention have clashed raucously with Clinton backers.
Most Sanders supporters in the North Carolina delegation understood before Tuesday’s convention roll call vote that Clinton had clinched the nomination, but they’re not letting their work for Sanders’ “political revolution” fall by the wayside.
Jeff Rose, of Asheville, says he’ll feel that his hard work for Sanders will have meaning if Clinton continues to acknowledge how Sanders’ campaign helped shape the Democratic platform adopted at the convention Monday.
“I think there are a lot of people just really upset about the process,” Rose said. “I’d really like to hear an acknowledgement from Hillary that a lot of the things we are now pushing for are because of Bernie.”
Other Sanders delegates from the Tarheel State don’t feel the same. Cliff Moone, of Hickory, doesn’t think the Clinton should take the blame for the leaked Democratic National Committee emails that show the DNC tried to undermine Sanders’ campaign for the Democratic nomination.
“The Sanders folks, me included, needed to have a catharsis moment,” Moone said. “A moment when they could release all of that energy and fervor that they have for Bernie Sanders and his campaign and ideas. “Now, people need to be a part of the unified Democratic party, not just the revolution.”
Clinton supporters are excited to move on from the divide and come together as a unified party. They hope Clinton makes points in Thursday’s speech that resonate with North Carolinians so she can get the whole delegation on board.
North Carolina voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race, but voted for Republican Mitt Romney in 2012.
“Looking at the issues, Eastern and Western North Carolina have issues with infant fatality and the urban rural divide,” said state Sen. Don Davis, D-5th District. “Hillary Clinton promises to focus on families and expand our middle class, and that is what our state deserves and needs.”
This story first appeared in the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times.