McDermott: Harris-Walz Ticket Will Help Democrats Get Elected In Indiana
Source: The Washington Post / Getty
CHICAGO — Indiana delivered all of its delegates to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president during the roll call of the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The mostly ceremonial roll call saw Democrats from all over the U.S. go on the official record as fully backing Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. As Indiana’s turn came to deliver its delegates, actor Sean Astin, who now calls Indiana home, helped Rep. Andre Carson do so.
Carson was surrounded by several delegates who are also high-profile leaders in Indiana such as former Sen. Joe Donnelly and Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott.
McDermott is bullish on the prospect of Harris becoming the first female president of the United States and he told Indy Politics that he’s convinced having her on the ballot instead of President Joe Biden will help other Democrats in Indiana get elected.
“I hope it happens. Obviously, I wish Jennifer (McCormick) and Destiny (Wells) the best,” McDermott said. “But, with Joe Biden on the ballot, I don’t think that helps Jennifer and Destiny at all. I think with Kamala on the ballot they are a lot better off.”
Still, McDermott finds himself remise to say that he wishes the Democratic Party had gone through a normal primary process to get to this point.
“I do regret that,” he said. “Look, I’m happy for Kamala. I think she is going to win the presidency, but I think about guys like Pete Buttigieg. The lack of a primary may have cost him a presidency, you know.”
McDermott is hopeful that if Kamala Harris is elected she can tap into her skills as a former prosecutor in California, especially going up against Donald Trump in the months ahead.
“You can’t argue with facts. She was a tough prosecutor and she took on bad guys,” said McDermott. “Donald Trump is a felon. You can’t argue with that. These are truths.”
The night was highlighted by former President Barack Obama who gave the keynote address to end the evening. He likened a Trump presidency to that of a bad sequel to a bad movie franchise.
More arrests were made outside the United Center in Chicago as well as anti-Israel protestors continued to clash with police officers. McDermott called the environment outside the DNC “a little crazy.”
