Published: September 06, 2008 05:19 pm            

Local leaders sound off on conventions

Somerset — Banner-waving. Speechmaking. Hand-shaking. The kinds of things each major poltical party’s faithful look forward to at the election season conventions, all leading up to the selection of a new American president.

Republicans and Democrats alike have followed their respective parties’ conventions with great zeal over the past two weeks. Through protests and hurricanes, the campaigning in Denver and St. Paul carried on, and some of the most captivating voices in modern politics spoke out on the issues that will define November’s presidential elec-tion.

Needless to say, the leaders of Pulaski’s elephant and donkey supporters both followed the conventions with great interest, and came away inspired by what they heard and saw.

The Democrats

The Democrats held their convention first, on Aug. 25-28 in Denver, Colo. Candidate Barack Obama formally accepted his nomination for president, running mate Joe Biden tried to show how he brings experience to the ticket, and supporters heard from the duo of Bill and Hillary Clinton, who held a Democratic presence in the White House for the better part of the 1990s.

Bill Gilmore, the chairman of the Pulaski County Democratic Party, was impressed with what he witnessed saying he “definitely felt a strong spirit of unity” among those seen on television.

To Gilmore, the key issues of the campaign include the ongoing struggle in Iraq, the economy, health care and developing a compreh-ensive energy policy. Some keys to the latter problem, he suggested, involve drilling for more oil, conservation policies for automobiles and buildings under construction (as well as retrofitting existing buildings for energy efficiency), using renewable sources like wind and solar power, and utilizing the potential of nuclear energy.

Gilmore said that before Obama ultimately trump-ed Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, the local party leader supported Biden, the Delaware senator, for the ticket. So Gilmore is quite pleased that the veteran congressman has signed on as Obama’s running mate, considered by many to offer the type of in-the-trenches know-how the senator from Illinois may not possess.

“I’m pleased ... I think (Biden) brings a wealth of experience,” said Gilmore. “I thought Biden did a great job (at the convention), and I think we need that. He’s been up there a long time and he has a wealth of experience with foreign relations — he brings a whole lot to the table.”

Gilmore saw plenty of “passion” among the 85,000 that attended the convention on opening night. He’d like to see the same from Pulaski’s registered Democrats, numbering just over 11,500, and says Democrats will have to work at a “grassroots level” to win Pulaski County, a traditionally GOP-dominated area, for Obama. He’s hoping the Democratic Rally picnic on Oct. 9 at Pulaski County Park will help energize local voters.

“I know we’re in the minority,” said Gilmore. “We’re focusing on young Democrats, focusing on registration. ... A greater degree of passion would certainly be welcome. I’m glad we have what we have, but I’d like to see better (support).”

The Republicans

John McCain, the veteran senator from Arizona, is the man Republicans chose to challenge Obama for the White House, but his running mate might have stolen the show. McCain’s choice of Alaska’s Gov. Sarah Palin ensures a first for the Oval Office come 2009 — either it’s first black president or first female vice president — but more importantly, her convention speech on Wednesday is what everyone who watched the Sept. 1-4 event in St. Paul, Minn. came away discussing.

Cloyd Bumgardner, chairman of the Pulaski County Republican Party, was just impressed with Palin, who spend a lot of her time discussing energy issues — in which her home state plays a key role — as most of his party compatriots.

“I think that the ticket with the combination of a war hero and a governor from Alaska who holds the same traditional values which Pulaskians hold (is inspirational),” said Bumgardner. “I think that (Palin) represents the core values of rural America. I have heard from many people around Pulaski County who were excited by her presentation.”

Energy and oil aren’t the only key issues for the Republicans, said Bumgardner. The troubled economy is the hottest topic, as well as security in the aftermath of 9/11 and the best way to address fighting in Iraq.

“There are other issues, but I think those will rise to the top,” said Bumgardner. “I think that the Republican party is very focused on ensuring that America’s people are safe. We’re very focused on limited government, on expanding the economy and lowering taxes.”

The GOP expects to claim Pulaski County for McCain in November’s election. Over 28,600 voters are registered Republicans, and that count frequently brings political heavy-hitters to town. At the Republican Picnic on Sept. 27 at Pulaski County Park, Congressman Hal Rogers and Sen. Mitch McConnell will show up to stump for the key Republican candidates in this election.

“I think the convention is a good representation of the Republican Party nationally,” said Bumgardner. “I think we’re fielding two excellent candidates. ... I believe a lot of people are very pleased with the ticket.”

The Campaigning

But what do voters make of the speeches made at the conventions? Those who watched the same Republican and Democrat candidates who did battle with McCain and Obama on the Primary campaign trail heard those same individuals heap the two presidential hopefuls with praise during the conventions.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney compared McCain to Ronald Reagan in championing “the right course” for America, even though Romney had criticized McCain’s understanding of the economy before the primary. President Clinton, who earlier suggested electing the inexperienced Obama would be like “a roll of the dice,” had nothing but glowing things to say about his wife’s one-time opponent at the convention, claiming “Obama is ready to lead America and to restore American leadership in the world.”

With politics’ key figures changing their tune after their campaigns are over, can voters take any of this seriously? Both Gilmore and Bumgardner believe so.

“I’d say if you had a short memory and didn’t remember what (Clinton) said months ago and just what was said and displayed at the convention, I didn’t see any hint of disharmony,” said Gilmore. “There was very little negative. President Clinton and Hillary were definitely on board, and they stressed the importance of all Democrats coming together and supporting Obama and the entire Democratic ticket.”

Bumgardner called the Republicans a “big tent party,” priding themselves on bringing together many different viewpoints where they can be “hashed out and the best approach to bigger issues can be determined.”

He added that party opponents flipping from attacks to praise is “par for the political process,” and that most voters realize that.

“I think voters have been able to see who McCain is at his core and what he represents,” said Bumgardner. “I think it’s a very serious process, and quite frankly, the best way to go about it.”

        

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