Democrats say they will hold a virtual roll call on August 7 to formally choose Vice President Kamala as their party’s nominee after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek another term.
Pressure mounted for Biden not to run again because of his age. Since endorsing Kamala Harris for the job, more than 75% of democratic delegates have pledged to support her.
Southwest Florida delegates are all onboard and already looking forward to the August 19 th convention that kicks off in Chicago and Delegate Bob Geltner of North Fort Myers said he believes that President Biden made the right decision not to continue running.
“We knew he would be loyal to his vice president, unlike Trump. He wanted his supporters to hang his vice president. Joe Biden endorsed his VP to become president, so the contrast couldn't be greater,” Geltner said.
It's that contrast Geltner, an attorney, said will be on full display at the convention when he was asked what difference he expects to see between the party’s conventions.
“I don't know why you'd bring a wrestler on stage and tear open his shirt and bring in convicted felons and speak on behalf of the other convicted felon,” Geltner said. He was referring to Hulk Hogan, a featured speaker at the GOP convention.
The convicted felon he was referring to is former President Trump, who was found guilty by a jury on 34 charges of illegally influencing the 2016 election through hush money he paid to a porn star who said the two had sex.
“He's the old man in the race. If you listen to any of his speeches recently, he's stumbling and mumbling,” Geltner said.
He predicts voters will see a stark difference between 78-year-old Trump and 59-year-old Harris.
“Someone who is young, vigorous and can fight, fight, fight just as much as Donald Trump and even more so,” Gelter said, referring to Harris, a former prosecutor.
Dr. Cindy Banyai of Fort Myers is an alternate delegate and former boxer who says the party is up for the fight to win.
“We have a lot of excitement about electing our first woman president,” Banyai said.
She believes the vice presidential pick has the potential to add to the excitement.
“I think it's going to be strategic. Somebody that can help hold up the ticket and make sure we're bringing unity across the United States with the democratic ticket,” Dr. Banyai said.
She was asked what she hopes the takeaway from the convention will be for her and others.
“I want to come out fired up so I can come back here in SWFL and get our amazing volunteer candidates ready to go for November,” Banyai concluded.
Democrats will have to try to carry that excitement into the three-day convention that kicks off Aug. 19.
The party will have less than three months before the November 5 General Election.