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WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County’s lone Democratic delegate says this week’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia will be a show of unity, with the entire party behind its candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Eric Graff, who won a delegate seat in the primary this past April, supported Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont. But Graff said he will back Clinton once she is confirmed as the Democratic candidate for the White House.
“I’m not happy with Hillary, but she is by far the most qualified candidate running for the office,” said Graff, 57. “But I’m not one of those ‘Bernie or bust’ guys. When we nominate Hillary, I will be one of the first to hold up a ‘Hillary for President’ sign.”
Graff said if he could be legally released from a first-ballot vote for Sanders, he would give that vote to Clinton.
“As opposed to the Republican National Convention (in Cleveland), which was filled with divisiveness, anger and hatred, the DNC will be a complete show of unity and support for Hillary,” Graff said. “And you will see real star power in Philadelphia — ex-presidents, real luminaries. And you will see the entire Democratic Party behind Hillary, not just a few capitulating to something.”
Graff said he was pleased that Sanders and Clinton were able to agree on some issues important to Sanders and to have them become part of the Democratic platform.
“I would say 95 percent or more of Bernie supporters will support Hillary,” Graff said. “When the choice is (Donald) Trump or Clinton, to any Democrat the only choice is Clinton.”
Grace McGregor Kramer, 28, of Scranton, is a Clinton delegate and also will serve as a delegate whip, working with about 10 other delegates to ensure all campaign messages are delivered to every delegate.
“We will make sure they are aware of any meetings or key votes,” Kramer said. “We want a well-organized effort on the floor to assure that Hillary gets all the delegates that she is entitled to and that all of her delegates are on the floor to cast their ballots on the first vote.”
Kramer said delegates have to be present on the convention floor at the Wells Fargo Center to cast their votes. Kramer said she has talked with several other Pennsylvania delegates, and they are looking forward to hearing the messages of all speakers at the DNC, primarily Clinton.
“And we are especially excited about getting to hear what Hillary is planning to do as president to positively change the lives of all Americans,” Kramer said. “This week will be a stark contrast to what we have seen this past week in Cleveland.”
Kramer said she expects the Pennsylvania Delegation to stand out in Philadelphia because of the significance of the state in the general election this November.
“And we are the host state,” Kramer said. “There will be a tremendous amount of resources that will go into Pennsylvania throughout this campaign. I expect Pennsylvania to be a battleground state, and we will get a lot of attention at the convention.”
On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, sat down with Katie McGinty, Democratic candidate for the state’s other Senate spot. McGinty is running against the incumbent, Republican Pat Toomey.
Casey announced he will speak at the Democratic convention to discuss the economy.
“This is an exciting time for Philadelphia to once again make history with the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president,” Casey said. “This will be an opportunity to lay out the economic choice before our nation.”
Casey said Clinton has put forth specific plans to grow Pennsylvania’s economy through investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.
“The Republican nominee is pledging to double down on the same failed economic policies that drove our economy into the ditch in 2008 when our country was losing approximately 700,000 jobs per month,” Casey said.
Casey said the Democrats will be unified, a showing that will come across at the DNC.
“It’s already there,” Casey said at the Northern Light Espresso Bar and Cafe on Spruce Street in Scranton on Thursday. “We have an obligation to amplify that message at the convention. This is where we begin the general-election campaign for Hillary — it’s where we will hear her agenda.”
McGinty agreed, saying it is “incredibly important” for the Democratic Party to present a positive message to the American voting public.
“We have to show the people that we are about bringing the country together, not building walls,” McGinty said. “The Republicans showed their divisiveness (last) week.”
Casey and McGinty said Pennsylvania is one of four key states in the election and that winning the state will be a tough battle.
“That’s why it is so important for people to get out and vote,” McGinty said. “We have to have everyone on board.”
McGinty, in trying to unseat an incumbent Republican, is a key in the Democrats’ quest to regain control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 54-44 edge, with two Independents.
McGinty said her campaign, as well as Clinton’s, will focus on improving the middle class, returning jobs to the United States in manufacturing, raising the minimum wage, strengthening national security, making college affordable, and preserving Social Security and Medicare. McGinty and Casey said all Americans will hear that message this week.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Scranton — a friend of Clinton’s since 1992 — said the convention will show she is far more mature than Trump, and that she has a thorough understanding of foreign policy and the military.
“Donald Trump is erratic, and it would be dangerous to give him our nuclear codes,” Cartwright said. “This week we will hear a much more substantive discussion about why Hillary Clinton will be a good president.”
