CHICAGO — As befits the most populous battleground state, Pennsylvania’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention watched from the front of the United Center here as Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, son of a bus driver, touted how quickly Pennsylvania officials got the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh and Interstate 95 in Philadelphia repaired — contrasting those accomplishments with former President Donald Trump’s constant promise of “infrastructure weeks” that never developed.
Mr. Davis cited those projects among the accomplishments of President Joe Biden, who signed a bipartisan infrastructure law early in his administration’s tenure, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who will keep on building, he said.
“Right now, we’re repairing roads and bridges across Pennsylvania, including in Pittsburgh, the city of bridges, and Vice President Harris is looking forward,” he said. “She’s committed to keeping our infrastructure safe and modern.”
Mr. Davis’ address was one of several Pennsylvania-related actions on the first day of the convention. Mr. Biden’s daughter, Ashley, mentioned that she was a Philadelphia social worker. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz made Monday’s Pennsylvania delegation breakfast one of his first stops. Gov, Josh Shapiro addressed two other delegations besides his own and spoke at a Democratic National Committee Labor Council meeting.
Only two state delegations have front-and-center seating at the convention: Pennsylvania and Kamala Harris’ home state of California.
“Pennsylvania is the Keystone State, and we are the key to a Democratic victory. I believe that’s why we were seated where we were,” said delegate Jill Zipin, chair of the Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania political action committee. “It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s a story I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren.”
Pennsylvania was part of the “Blue Wall” of Midwestern states that traditionally voted for Democratic candidates in presidential elections until Trump carried the state in 2016 and won the presidency. Mr. Biden flipped Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin back to the Democratic column four years ago.
Mr. Shapiro called Pennsylvania “the ultimate swing state.”
While the race to win all three of those states remains tight, Ms. Harris has risen in the polls since Mr. Biden ended his campaign last month, energizing Democrats in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
“I don’t think the party is overconfident, but I do think many in the party are feeling hopeful that victory is possible — not that victory is certain, not that the race is over, but we have a fighting chance,” said J.J. Balaban, a Philadelphia-based Democratic strategist and ad maker.
Mr. Davis’ speech also mentioned the federal effort to replace lead pipes and improve water quality. Ms. Harris visited Pittsburgh in February to announce billions of dollars in spending for clean water, including replacing lead-lined pipes. Funding for that work also came from the infrastructure law.
“When I think about the future, I think about my daughter Harper and all of America’s children. Investing in them means investing in our infrastructure,” Mr. Davis said. “It means replacing millions of lead pipes. It means providing clean air, clean water, safe roads and bridges, not just for us but for generations to come.”
The successful effort to reopen I-95 in 12 days rather than months has contributed to Mr. Shapiro’s high approval ratings, and he talked about that project in all of his speeches Monday.
He called it GSD — getting stuff done — although he also often uses a four-letter word instead of “stuff.”
“It sums up what people want — Democrats, Republicans, independents,” he told reporters after his speech to Florida Democrats. “They want their elected leaders to put points on the board every day, meaningful change, to make their lives a little bit better in all of of their communities: rural, urban and suburban. It really has become the mantra of our work.”
The Fern Hollow Bridge was rebuilt in 11 months after collapsing in January 2022, ironically while Mr. Biden was traveling to Pittsburgh to highlight the infrastructure law.
First Published: August 20, 2024, 7:02 p.m.
Updated: August 21, 2024, 1:22 p.m.