Bill Derrough: Former Democratic National Committee Treasurer on the support for the Democrats, the National Convention

A former US Treasurer says he hasn't seen this level of support for the Democrats since Barack Obama's presidential campaign.  

The Democratic National Convention starts in Chicago today. 

It's where Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz will accept their presidential and vice presidential nominations. 

Former Democratic National Committee Treasurer Bill Derrough told Mike Hosking that Harris has some serious momentum.  

He says there's tremendous energy, and a feeling like they haven't felt since 2008 with Barack Obama, maybe even greater than that. 

Derrough says there’s still some sadness around Biden stepping down, but it’s worked out for the best. 

He says it couldn't have come together in a better way, supporting Harris and Walz, and making a symbolic handover at the first day of the Convention. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So it's the Democrats wait in Chicago, of course, as
they officially gather for the convention that will confirm Kambala
Harris's their candidate for the US presidency. Formed a treasurer
for the DNC, Billderra's with us A Bill Morning.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
To you, Good morning morning, New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Do they go into the party go in with real
momentum this week?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
It is? It is a feeling like I don't think
we felt since two thousand and eight with Barack Obama,
maybe even greater than that. I think it's it's tremendous energy,
tremendous optimism. And you know, the contrast, I think, in
terms of tone to the other candidates campaign is kidnapping

(00:43):
more black and white.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
If I rang you six or seven weeks ago and said,
tell you what's going to happen here, Bill Biden's going
to walk and Harris is going to come in and
she's going to be really popular, you would have said what.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
I don't know what I would have said. I uh, now,
six weeks ago will be before the debate, so I
think I probably would have said, you're out of your mind.
And you know, I don't know how many of the
folks in uh in New Zealand saw the debate between
President Biden and former President Trump. But it was it

(01:20):
was such a stark moment that I think everybody, even
the people who love and support Joe Biden as we
do known in a number of years an amazing, amazing person.
But you know, that moment was was really become kind
of moment I think so and I would have said

(01:46):
said no, I would have said no chance.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right, And what was seeing today the Biden handing over,
I mean that in itself is a piece of history.
Is it awkward for the party that the person who
should be running isn't or is it a piece of
history to be in briced.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think it's a little bit of both. You know,
I'm not I'm not at the convention. I had chosen
not to go, and now I'm a little bit kicking myself.
I think for all of us, there's a little gonna
be a little bit of a tremendous amount of sadness
and maybe a little bit of guilt. He's such a

(02:24):
wonderful man, Joe Biden, who's done so much for this
but just just given so much of himself that even
though we all know it was the right answer. I
think it still hurts, right, we hurt for him. Uh So,
on the one hand, on the other hand, we can't
we just can't lose. We can't have a dynamic where

(02:44):
we both lose the White House and the House and
the Senate. And so I think it could not have
come together in a better way, supporting the Vice president
and her now her selection of Governor Wallas as her
vice presidential nominal.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
It's going to be fantastic to watch today. Let's see
what happens this week. Bill Derra, who was the former
treasurer for the Democratic National Committee. The convention taking place
in Chicago. Most of it will happen in the afternoon.
New Zealand Time For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to News Talks at B from six am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.