Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks to reporters Monday Aug. 19, 2024 at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (Capital-Star photo)
CHICAGO — Pennsylvania Democrats kicked off the Democratic National Convention on Monday with a rousing speech at the delegates’ breakfast gathering from Gov. Josh Shapiro who said the “GSD” — getting stuff done — motto of his administration also described the work of the state party.
“We understand our role in protecting our fundamental rights and our fundamental freedoms,” Shapiro said. “That’s the cause of our work, and that is what we are making progress on in Pennsylvania, and that GSD model, well, that’s the way Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have lived in their public service careers.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, were “two middle class kids who grew up with dreams to serve others,” Shapiro said, adding Harris was “battle tested and ready to go.”
“But in many ways, this election isn’t just about those names that are on the ballot,” he added. “This election is about all of you and the unique responsibility we have as Pennsylvanians, two and a half centuries later to continue to do this hard work, to continue to motivate, to continue to organize, to knock on doors and organize on our ‘For You’ pages,” a reference to TikTok’s ‘For You’ page that recommends video clips to users.
“This is a moment that is calling us to stand up, to rise up, to demand more,” Shapiro said. “And my fellow Pennsylvanians, I know we’re up to the test. So are you ready to get to work?”
Shapiro spoke with reporters after his remarks, forcefully rebutting former President Donald Trump’s comment at a Wilkes-Barre rally on Saturday that the reason Harris didn’t choose Shapiro as her running mate is because he’s Jewish. “Antisemitism played absolutely no role in my dialogue with the vice president. Absolutely none,” Shapiro said.
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“Donald Trump is the least credible person to listen to when it comes to hate and bigotry and certainly antisemitism,” he added. “This was the guy after Charlottesville when folks were walking around with tiki torches saying ‘Jews will not replace us,’ who literally said, ‘There are good people on both sides.’”
It’s unclear if Shapiro will have a speaking role during the convention’s prime time speeches.
Walz made a surprise appearance at the breakfast, praising Shapiro and the state party for rallying support for Harris.
Harris and Walz were in western Pennsylvania Sunday, touring that area of the state by bus. They stopped at a firehouse, a Primanti Bros., a high school football team’s practice, a campaign field office and a Sheetz. Walz’s mention of Sheetz received some light boos from members of the delegation loyal to Sheetz’ eastern Pennsylvania rival Wawa.
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“You hear me keep saying this, this idea about ‘hope’ being the most powerful word in the universe,” Walz said Monday. “It is, but it’s not a damn plan. You’ve got to plan to win. You’ve got to plan to make a difference.” Since Harris became the presumptive nominee, Walz said, more than 48,000 Pennsylvania volunteers have signed up for the campaign.
President Joe Biden bowed out of his reelection bid in July after a shaky debate performance, and endorsed Harris. Biden, who Walz called “the best president of my lifetime,” will address the convention Monday night.
Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), the first Black woman to hold that title, gave her fellow Democrats a set of marching orders for the upcoming election.
“We’re here with purpose, on purpose, but we have tons of work to do in our communities,” she said. “We have to put our sneakers on. We have to go in our circle of friends, in our circle of people we haven’t met yet. And we have to take the fire that we have in Chicago, marching all the way back to every corner of the Commonwealth, because we’ve only got 80-something days to deliver democracy.”
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