(La Porte, IN) - A local delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago feels his party from Vice-President Kamala Harris running for president has a better chance at competing in republican dominated Indiana.
Shaw Friedman, a longtime attorney from LaPorte, is one of close to 90 delegates for the party from Indiana attending the convention.
Friedman said Harris has noticeably energized the party after president Joe Biden chose not to seek a second term and recommended Harris to replace him as the party’s nominee.
Harris has also closed the gap with republican nominee, former president Donald Trump, in the nationwide polls.
Friedman, a former La Porte County Democratic Party Chairman, said he believes the energy Harris has brought to the campaign will carry over to democrats running for governor and other state offices.
“There’s a feeling among Indiana delegates that it’s certainly going to help our situation statewide. There’s a sense that at least we’ve become competitive. That’s all you want to be is just be in the hunt,” he said.
Friedman said he still expects a "very close" outcome in the November 5 election between Harris and Trump
He has been a delegate representing the northern third of Indiana for close to four years.
So far, among the famous democrats Friedman has rubbed elbows with include former U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly of Granger, Ind. and actor Sean Astin, who played the lead role in the movie "Rudy."
He portrayed Rudy Ruettiger, who made the University of Notre Dame football team as a walk-on in the 1970's but never played until the final seconds of his last game.
Ruettiger made a tackle in the final seconds of play.
Astin's wife, Christine, has family in the La Porte area.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, former president Bill Clinton and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who’s now the U.S. Transportation Secretary, are expected to be among the speakers tonight at the convention.
