Lamont to Biden delegates: ‘We’re not going to leave anything on the battlefield’

In the kick-off to an “unconventional” Democratic National Convention, Gov. Ned Lamont and Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez fired up Connecticut delegates Monday to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden to be Democrats’ presidential pick.

“We’re not going to leave anything on the battlefield this time,” Lamont told Connecticut’s 60 delegates in a Monday morning breakfast call.

The Democratic National Convention, a largely virtual event this year, will take place from Monday to Thursday, with speeches from leading Democrats each night from 9 to 11 p.m. As the week started, party leaders naturally made note of that — in the hope that delegates not let the unusual arrangement slow their efforts.

“I know this is indeed unconventional this week, but I think you’re going to find it’s going to be exciting,” Perez said. “It’s inspiring.”

In addition to national programming, Connecticut delegates will spend the week getting to know elected officials from Connecticut and across the country over Zoom. Former U.S. Rep. and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke of Texas urged Connecticut Democrats to get involved by making calls to voters in his state Monday night. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., discussed gun violence prevention campaigns and his fundraising to flip the Senate.

Connecticut delegates learned about the push for Washington, D.C. statehood and later, tuned into a virtual “happy hour” with the Vermont Democratic Party and former Governor and chair of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, on Monday.

Delegates will not travel to Milwaukee — the convention’s host city — this year, but instead will take in the convention from their states, participating in virtual caucus meetings and voting to nominate Biden on Tuesday. Biden is also not heading to Milwaukee; he will participate in convention activities from his home state of Delaware.

Even without the normal pomp and fanfare, Connecticut delegates were eager for the convention’s four-days of Zoom and livestreamed events.

Steven Sheinberg, chair of the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee and a Connecticut delegate, said he was excited to kick off the convention with Lamont and Perez. A first-time delegate, Sheinberg has been busy informing Fairfield Democrats how to watch the conventions from home and placing orders for Biden-Harris lawn signs, he said.

“I am thrilled with the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Sheinberg said. He said believes Biden will control the pandemic and tackle unemployment and economic and racial injustice. A self-described “pragmatic progressive,” Sheinberg said he appreciated Biden’s “strength of character.”

All of Connecticut’s delegates are Biden supporters because no other Democratic candidate won enough support in the state to receive delegates in the state’s Aug. 11 primary.

Lamont urged the delegates to get ready now for the November election by making plans to vote, encouraging friends to vote and volunteering for the Biden campaign.

“The stakes are even bigger and we need everybody’s commitment as we turn this around,” Lamont said. “I think we’ve realized over the years, especially just in this century what a difference elections can make. Al Gore could have millions more votes or at least a few hanging chads here there and imagine what a difference that would have made. Instead of invading Iraq, we would have had trillions to invest in our own country, in education and health care. Hillary Clinton got millions more votes but that didn’t seem to be quite enough and we ended up with Donald Trump.”

An early supporter of Biden, Lamont recalled Biden’s personability at a fundraiser that Biden attended at Lamont’s home in Greenwich six months ago.

“He spoke from the heart and then he just walked into the room,” said Lamont Monday. “It was a group of independents and Republicans, incredibly diverse, obviously all our Democrats there. And just one-on-one and those personal relationships that make a difference. That’s part of what makes Joe Biden special.”

Lamont has given $3,000 to Biden’s campaign. His wife, Annie Lamont, a venture capital executive, has given over $5,000 to Biden. In July, Biden held a virtual fundraiser with the Lamonts, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rep. Jim Himes, D-4.

In 2018, the former vice president campaigned on behalf of Connecticut Democrats ahead of the mid-term election.

Unlike in past conventions, Biden will participate in the convention on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. In the past, presidential nominees have remained out of the convention spotlight until their acceptance speech on the last night of the convention, which this year is on Thursday.

“You’re going to hear from Joe Biden in different ways, shapes and forms every night because we want people to see Joe Biden in action,” Perez said on the call.

No Connecticut elected officials are expected to give national speeches.