PHILADELPHIA — Donna Brazile, the newly minted interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, is hoping to be a calming force on the podium of the Democratic National Convention opening here tonight.
Brazile, taking over for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz who was booted as DNC chair because of the pro-Hillary Clinton email scandal, said she sees her job as organizing the party to elect Clinton.
Donna Brazile, center, was mobbed by supporters in downtown Philadelphia.
She’s been here before.
In a streetside interview with Secrets, Brazile said, “I’ve been interim chair before of the Democratic Party and my job is, I’m really going back to doing what I do best. I’m an organizer. I want to help the party and I want to help Secretary Clinton win.”
Walking by the historic Reading Terminal Market in downtown, she was stopped every two feet by supporters who waited in 95 degree heat for busses to the Wells Fargo Center where the convention is headquartered.
“We love you,” shouted one supporter. Dozens of others stopped the affable Brazile for selfies.
For the one-time Al Gore campaign manager, getting the position to manage the convention comes at a special time.
“You know I love the Democratic Party, I’ve been a member of the Democratic Party now for 40 years, and it’s amazing, it’s my 40th anniversary as a Democrat and here I am,” she said.
Asked what’s different between the Gore and Clinton campaigns, she joked, “Well, no hanging chads, no spinning chads, no pregnant chads.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
