CHELSEA — On the third day of the Democratic Party Convention, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was the headliner with the support of his former football players.
Unaffiliated delegates gathered outside the Democratic National Convention to protest the fact that no Palestinian American was scheduled to speak at the event. Democrats also provided a “gender-neutral” prayer room outside the convention at the United Center.
Here is some of the excitement at the DNC on Wednesday, captured by the Washington Examiner.
“Waltz Wednesday”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team tried to make “Walz Wednesday” possible even before Governor Tim Walz (Democrat, Minnesota) ceremoniously accepted the nomination for vice president.
Communications Director Michael Tyler donned Walz’s camouflage baseball cap and also defended the governor against criticism regarding his and his wife’s use of intrauterine insemination, rather than in vitro fertilization, as he claimed.
“The governor will fully table the induction phase here,” Tyler told reporters. “He’s made it very clear so far that infertility is a deeply personal journey that he and his wife have been brave enough to share. I think that should be celebrated. I think, frankly, it’s very relatable to millions of American families across the country who have been through the same struggle. Frankly, I find it a little bizarre that JD Vance and Donald Trump want to attack the governor for experiencing something that millions of Americans are going through themselves.”
Sleepy McCormick Place
McCormick Place, the center of the convention’s daytime program, was a hive of activity earlier this week, but after the nightly program following Obama’s appearance, the convention center was decidedly sleepy on Wednesday.
Even appearances by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain at the Democratic National Committee’s labor council meeting failed to draw large crowds.
DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison apologized for his croaking voice and blamed the previous evening’s party leadership.
Walz’s former student football players take the stage
Former football players from Mankato West, where vice presidential candidate Tim Walz taught and coached, took the stage before his speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Delegates wave “big heads” of “Trainer Walz”
During his speech on Wednesday evening, delegates in the convention hall could be seen waving large cutouts of Walz’s heads.
Signs reading “Coach Walz” made up the majority of the signs on the ground. Walz has relied heavily on his background as a high school teacher and football coach during the campaign.
Giffords and Kelly were spotted walking
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), a leader in the movement to end gun violence after surviving an assassination attempt in 2011, was seen holding hands with her husband, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), as they were seen leaving the congressional hall.
Gender-neutral prayer rugs
The convention floor has numerous gender-neutral restrooms for transgender delegates and guests. The Democrats have also set up a “gender-neutral” prayer room with two prayer rugs outside the convention floor in the United Center. It is located next to prayer rooms for women and men.
Nancy Pelosi resumes her duties as Speaker
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California) made her rounds at the delegation breakfasts on Wednesday morning, with a small special feature at the meeting in Maryland.
At the official conclusion of the morning session, Pelosi, who hails from Baltimore, was presented with a gavel, thus resuming her role as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Missing official Harris articles on the convention
President Joe Biden’s face is featured on more merchandise than Harris’s, considering she is the candidate – at least based on what’s still available at the McCormick Place store.
But considering the last-minute change at the top of the list, this isn’t too surprising.
Will Beyoncé appear?
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) was a joker at the North Carolina delegation’s breakfast.
When he mentioned the possibility of an “unexpected musical guest” before Harris’ own acceptance speech on Thursday night, people didn’t gasp – they screamed. Harris’s farewell song was “Freedom” by Beyonce, leading fans to suspect the superstar would make a surprise appearance on the final night.
At the same breakfast, Governor Wes Moore (D-MD), a potential 2028 presidential candidate, was keen to kiss a baby.
“POORLY BUILT, BLEACHED BLONDE, MALE BODY”
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas appeared on the media panel Wednesday night wearing a T-shirt commemorating her infamous exchange with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia earlier this year.
Asked by the Washington Examiner If she had trademarked the phrase “POORLY BUILT, BLEACH BLONDE BUTCH BODY,” Crocket would have simply replied, “I applied for it.”
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Undecided delegates stage sit-in outside DNC to protest lack of Palestinian-American speaker
Unaffiliated delegates gathered outside the Democratic National Convention to protest the fact that no Palestinian American is scheduled to speak at the event. The sit-in came after the parents of an Israeli-American hostage taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel took the convention stage.
The DNC reportedly rejected the undecided delegates’ request to invite a Palestinian-American speaker. Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted her support and later Facetimed the group, while Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also appeared outside the building.
