Democrats from across the country visit Chicago and United Center less than a year before DNC

CHICAGO — Democratic Party officials from across the U.S. were in Chicago on Tuesday to get a taste of what’s in store for them and their state delegations when they descend on the city for the Democratic National Convention next August.

To try to energize state party chairs and executive directors who will return to Chicago next year for the made-for-TV bonanza, Democratic convention officials rolled out the red carpet at a United Center preview.

Bulls and Blackhawks championship banners were lowered to the floor so attendees could snap pictures next to Bulls backup guard Rusty LaRue’s name.

A politicized version of a stadium sports introduction — with shots of Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton (speaking at Chicago’s last Democratic Convention, in 1996) interspersed with clips of Michael Jordan and Jonathan Toews — flashed on the United Center scoreboard as dozens of state party chairs checked out the venue where the major events for the convention will be held.

And a giant clock also ticked downward, reminding Democrats they have 341 days until Aug. 19 when the party is expected to be held to nominate Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for a second term.

Looming over that countdown is Chicago’s immigrant crisis and the likelihood Republicans such as Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas will continue busing migrants to Chicago to politicize the issue as the convention draws nearer.

Carroll G. Robinson, chair of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said outside the United Center that he isn’t worried about that.

“I’ve been going to Democratic National Conventions since 1984,” Robinson said. “Immigration has been an issue since 1988, ‘84 and before, so if Republicans think immigration is going to be the issue they beat the Democratic Party on, maybe they don’t understand the people who make up America.”

But Democrats’ position on the migrant issue is far from uniform. When asked about calls from Chicago Democrats for Biden to expedite work permits for the asylum-seekers, Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried noted the need to “protect workers here on the ground.”

“We know that our unions are being attacked, especially here in the state of Florida, and so it’s something that we have to continue to stand up and make sure we are putting them first, and making sure that’s part of the conversation,” Fried said before boarding a bus with other delegates outside the United Center to head to lunch at a winery in Bronzeville.

The junket also gave Chicago convention officials a chance to plant the seed to get thousands of delegates to spend some money in neighborhoods outside the downtown area where nearly all of them will be staying.

The organizers have promised to spread the wealth to struggling neighborhoods on the South and West sides, where some residents remain skeptical they will actually benefit.

The 2024 convention executive director, Alex Hornbrook, said business owners from around the city would be at a planned Tuesday night reception at Navy Pier, and urged attendees at the United Center to hire them for dinners and other events during the convention.

“We — the DNC and the host committee — are a big, the biggest part of the economic impact that will be felt here in Chicago, but we’re not the only part,” Hornbrook said. “You guys are a big part of that too. So please don’t just enjoy the hospitality and the food at Bronzeville and Navy Pier tonight. Talk to these vendors. Get their info.”

The Chicago excursion also gave officials an opportunity to take a look at the hotels where their delegations have been assigned rooms for August 2024. The importance of a state to the party’s election success is often reflected in where its delegation gets to stay.

Key swing state Pennsylvania’s delegation will bunk in rooms at the Palmer House. “It’s a good-looking hotel,” Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Sharif Street said with a smile.

______