Despite national reports that Bernie Sanders supporters will not follow pleas from their candidate and others in the Democratic Party to support Hillary Clinton, the chair of the Hall County Democratic Party said she believes most will vote for Clinton in the long run.
Sheila Nicholas, in a phone interview with AccessWDUN, said she understands the hurt and disappointment many Sanders supporters are feeling. She noted many of the supporters are younger Americans and this is their first foray into campaigning for a candidate.
"This is a first step for them," said Nicholas. "I think a majority of them will come along when the realize what the DNC (Democratic National Committee) has done for them in bringing a lot more progressive policies into the format of the [convention]. Once all of this shakes out...certainly by Thursday, 90-percent of the Bernie supporters will be on board."
Nicholas said even though Sanders supporters have been vocal with their disappointment, she thinks they should be encouraged by the fact the Democrats are open to different opinions, something she said she didn't see at last week's Republican National Convention.
"Just the electricity that was there last night...that is diversity, that is inclusivity on the part of the Democrats," said Nicholas. "You look side by side at the audience, the people who attended the RNC and the people who are attending the DNC, I mean, there's no comparison. You look at practically white on white and then you look at every race, every religion, just the whole diversity. That's what makes the Democratic Party."
Nicholas said even before the DNC, party leaders in Hall County had seen an increased interest in the Democratic Party locally.
"I think they [voters] look at Trump and say 'whoa, this just cannot happen,'" Nicholas said.
She said local party leaders have been busy on the phones, calling voters and telling them about local candidates, such as Angela Middleton, who is running against Republican Jeff Stowe in November for a seat on the Hall County Commission. They also are energized by the U.S. Senate campaign of Jim Barksdale. The party shares headquarters space with both candidates at 996 Athens Street in Gainesville.
Nicholas said local Democrats will have a "watch party" on Thursday night at party headquarters to watch as the national party makes history, choosing Hillary Clinton as the first woman to accept a major party nomination for President of the United States.
Once that order of business is done, then local Democrats will be back on the phone and knocking on doors to make sure their candidates get the votes in November, according to Nicholas.
For more information on the Hall County Democratic Party, visit their website or their Facebook page.
