Democratic Delegates Bring Range of Views to Convention

JIM LEHRER:

Ray Suarez has been out talking to delegates today. And he begins with a snapshot of the Georgia delegation.

RAY SUAREZ:

At 7:30 this morning, Georgia's 117 delegates kicked off their convention week with a customary meet-and-greet breakfast. The Georgia group mirrors many other delegations this year; more than half are first-timers.

LAVERNE GASKINS, Valdosta, Georgia:

I believe in Obama's message of change. And I think he is, without a doubt, the best candidate to become president of the United States. And so that's what motivated me to be involved on this level.

SAI REDDI, Dublin, Georgia:

I think the turning point was a couple of years ago, when I lost two of my fraternity brothers in Iraq. And then I started wondering, you know, when we grow up, do we just go out for the jobs that make a lot of money or do we go after the — do we go after how to make a difference in this world?

And I think this is my first opportunity to get involved and see where I can make a difference.

RAY SUAREZ:

Georgia has voted Republican in the last two presidential elections. It's now being declared a battleground state by the Obama campaign. R.J. Hadley is a hospital executive from Georgia's second-smallest county and insists the Peach State is in play.

R.J. HADLEY, Rockdale County, Georgia:

I feel that it can be done. I really do. I think that the Democratic base — Rockdale County is a Republican county. It has been a Republican county for a long time.

But when you see the people that are coming out to the events, you know, a lot of times the advertising is just online advertising and word of mouth, and the events are packed. I mean, people are coming out.

RAY SUAREZ:

What about that cloud of division between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama delegates hovering over the start of this convention? New delegate and Clinton supporter Angela Trigg says she's not totally on board with Obama.

ANGELA TRIGG, Clinton Supporter:

There are hard feelings out there that I'm hoping that the convention will help heal. I'm hoping that the Obama folks and Obama himself will reach out to us and welcome us on.

There are, like me, there are some of us that are right there at the bumper of the bandwagon wanting to, you know, have that hand up. And so, if they just reach out to us, we're low-hanging fruit. But there are some that's going to be a little bit harder of a sell.

RAY SUAREZ:

But you feel like you haven't been invited in that way yet?

ANGELA TRIGG:

Not really yet, no. This is day one, so we really haven't had a chance that much yet, so I'm hoping — that's what I'm hoping is going to happen. And so — it won't take much for me. For some others, I think he's going to need to explain about why Hillary wasn't picked as a V.P.

RAY SUAREZ:

Trigg's friend and co-delegate, Laverne Gaskins, has been an Obama supporter from day one. She says she hopes this week will bring the whole Democratic Party together.

LAVERNE GASKINS:

Well, it's an opportunity to be around those individuals who support Obama's message of change. And for me, this is a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

And I support his message. I believe he's the best candidate for the president of the United States. And that's why I'm here. I want to share that message. I want to bring that message back to district one, and I'm happy to be here. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.