Inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia this week, Casey Pease of Worthington watched as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, and former president Bill Clinton spoke about his wife’s record of public service and why she is the best choice to become the first woman to lead the United States.
“You get the feeling of being part of something incredibly historic,” said Pease, a former field organizer for the Sanders campaign in western Massachusetts. “A lot of people in there were extremely excited about the nomination of the first woman president, and when you’re in the arena you get goose bumps.”
Jennifer Hayes of Easthampton described the immense energy and electricity she experienced inside the raucous building where she was present for Hillary Clinton’s historic acceptance speech as the first woman nominated for president by a major party, as well as for speeches by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
“There were really great vibes and really great enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton,” said Hayes, speaking Friday morning from the train station in Philadelphia. “It was truly historic. She’s definitely breaking a barrier that has been a long time coming, and is an incredibly deserving candidate.”
Though the four-day convention wrapped up Thursday, one of the continuing questions, for both Clinton and Sanders supporters, is whether it served to bring together those who campaigned for the rival candidates during the Democratic primaries.
Pease, 19, a University of Massachusetts sophomore, supported Sanders because of his progressive viewpoints. He said that when Sanders made his speech Monday, there was mixed reaction from the 1,800 or so delegates pledged to the Vermont senator.
“Hearing Bernie’s speech Monday evening was very emotional,” said Pease, who worked as a campaign surrogate ferrying some of the Sanders delegates around the city. “We didn’t win the nomination, but the fight is not over, and we’re still trying to organize a political revolution up and down the ballot.”
He said he hopes longtime Sanders supporters are not disheartened by the Clinton nomination.
“I think a lot of people felt disappointed that we didn’t win, and some were disappointed Bernie endorsed Hillary. But an endorsement of Hillary isn’t about giving up,” Pease said.
Pease is worried, though, that some Sanders allies will continue to protest the nomination. “They’re the ones less likely to suck it up and vote for Hillary,” Pease said.
He added that it is more important to beat Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“The platform is significantly better than what Republicans and Trump have to offer,” Pease said.
In a telephone interview Friday, U.S. Congressman James McGovern of Worcester called Sanders’ speech on Monday “gracious and magnanimous,” and said the party, after the convention, is now mostly unified.
“Senator Sanders and his supporters should feel a great sense of pride that they influenced the process in a positive way,” McGovern said.
McGovern compared the work of Sanders supporters to his own efforts on behalf of Democratic Party presidential nominee George McGovern in 1972. To him, McGovern was the “gold standard,” and Sanders is now the “gold standard” for those who voted for him.
But Sanders supporters should not fear a Clinton presidency, McGovern said, especially since the Democratic Party platform is progressive.
“I think Hillary is committed to what’s in the platform. She articulated much of it in her speech (Thursday),” McGovern said.
McGovern said Clinton’s speech touched on issues close to Sanders, such as overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which removed restrictions on campaign financing, investing in infrastructure and offering free higher education.
“What she presented to the nation is not only what she feels but is also a reflection of the Sanders campaign,” McGovern said.
Pease said there will be a need to hold Clinton’s “feet to the fire” to ensure aspects of this progressive platform are acted upon if she wins the Nov. 8 election.
“This is the most progressive platform in the party’s history, and we wouldn’t be saying that if Bernie Sanders hadn’t run,” Pease said.
Like McGovern, he saw in Hillary Clinton address topics such as getting money out of politics, making college more affordable and opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
As a city councilor in Easthampton and a longtime champion of women’s rights who recalls attending National Organization for Women events, Hayes said she has no doubt that Clinton is progressive.
“I think she is a progressive and she has been a progressive and this was the most progressive platform the Democratic Party has put forward,” Hayes said.
There is excitement with Obama and Biden and vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine being on the same team with Hillary Clinton, Hayes said.
“It’s going to be great, we’re going to get a lot of activity out of people pushing for” Hillary, Hayes said. “We’re going for a solid win.”
Hayes said good public policy and good legislation often depend on input from different views and opinions. Likewise, she said, there should be no problems with people who support Clinton and Sanders coming together for the common objective of winning the presidency.
McGovern, though, said some people are having a hard time getting on board.
“We need Bernie’s supporters to win,” McGovern said. Clinton “can’t do this without them.”
“Our party needs their passion, activism and commitment to making things better,” McGovern added.
Pease said he appreciates that Bernie and Jane Sanders have both said they will work to elect progressive candidates in other races and he intends to stay involved in grassroots campaigns. He is one of several former Sanders staffers who will do fundraising and set up field offices for other progressive candidates.
McGovern agrees that Clinton will be able to do more should progressives successfully get out the vote and elect Democratic majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate. Both chambers are currently controlled by Republicans.
The possibility of having people sign a commitment to the party platform may get like-minded folks to push the progressive agenda, he said. “I don’t want the status quo,” McGovern said.
Hayes said having been in the arena, she appreciated the diverse crowd and the numerous women, including a growing number already serving in Congress, and she is inspired by the next generation of leaders.
“One of things you come away with is you see candidates running for office from all over the United States, for different positions and what they’re talking about and what they’re up against,” Hayes said.
Pease said he would like to see younger voters who supported Sanders participate in local and state elections after the Nov. 8 national election so that the progressive cause can continue.
“No matter who is elected in November, young people need to turn out and vote, and vote in every election,” Pease said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
