Pritzker expects Democratic convention to be ‘like a rock concert’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) is expecting enthusiasm for Vice President Harris to continue into the Democratic National Convention this week, saying Sunday it will be “like a rock concert.”

Pritzker said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the convention will celebrate President Biden’s accomplishments as the party continues to rally behind Harris and her newly selected running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). The national convention will kick off Monday in Chicago.

“So we’re going to see a celebration of [Biden]. We’re also going to see how Kamala Harris has brought the party together with Tim Walz, by the way, a good friend of mine and a fellow Midwestern governor, you know, who’s an everyday guy and somebody that everybody relates to,” he said.

“So I think that collection, that pair has turned this place into, well, it, frankly, it’ll be like a rock concert. I think people are going to be cheering and pretty excited,” he added.

Pritzker also said Harris has energized the party in a way he hasn’t seen since former President Obama’s bid for the White House in 2008.

“This is a candidate who’s energized the party in a way that I haven’t seen certainly, since, ’08. And when I think about — I’ve been to every convention since I was able to vote and I can say I’ve not felt this kind of energy, electricity, at any convention other than the one for Barack Obama.”

Harris is looking to keep up Democratic momentum as she heads into the national convention this week. She has been boosting enthusiasm among Democrats in the weeks since launching her campaign and has closed the gap with former President Trump in many national and swing-state polls.