Georgia delegates at DNC encouraged to reach voters back home in the Peach State
Georgia state representative Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, said he has been to 10 Democratic National Conventions, and he has never seen as many Georgians on the main stage as he has this year.
Smyre addressed the Georgia delegation Thursday.
“If we just work, stick together and have a message that resonates with voters … it is clear to me that Georgia ought to be in play,” he said. “If we talk about the issues that resonate with the voters (like) health care, jobs, affordability, college tuition, things that produce a better quality of life for all Georgians.”
Smyre said the Democratic message should not be anti-Trump but rather pro-America, focusing specifically on economic development and empowering Georgians to help each other as opposed to tearing each other down.
“If we can get some help, if we can get some resources, if we can get our activists and our community leaders up and going, we can win Georgia,” he said.
Smyre reinforced one of themes of the week: turning Georgia blue.
“This is a winnable campaign,” he said. “I want us to leave here fired up and know that we can put Georgia back in play. We can help elect the next president of the United States.”
Michael Thurmond, an attorney from Athens who lost a senate race in 2010 to Johnny Isakson, said Donald Trump is too controversial and may lose votes from some Republican and independent voters who do not agree with his stances.
“I believe that Donald Trump will lead to the rebirth of the Democratic majority in Georgia,” Thurmond said. “If we reach out to disaffected Republicans and independent voters, we can rebuild the democratic majority in our state. We have to be wise, we have to be thoughtful and we have to turn out our base. Bring them back home and transform the faith of Georgia politics.”
Congressman Sanford Bishop, U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 2nd District, told the delegation his faith taught him that nothing happens by accident, and he believes they are in Philadelphia to fulfill a purpose. He said the Democratic Party of Georgia has the ability to make changes that will positively impact generations to come.
“We have an opportunity to change this country,” Bishop said. “We can’t just revel in the speeches we have heard. We can’t just feel good because we heard a good message. We came here because we are committed. We must be able to get our message to the people because upon that message depends the outcome of this adventure.”
Bishop encouraged the delegation to make a concerted effort to reach out to people outside of their friends and family to get them to vote in the upcoming election.
“We have the tools, the candidate, the message and the mission,” he said, “We just have to fulfill the commitment.”
This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Georgia delegates at DNC encouraged to reach voters back home in the Peach State."