TOLEDO, Ohio — For one organization in Toledo, Thursday night's acceptance speech by Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention was anticipated for a long time.
"We know that whatever she does will be exceptional and it will be great for the country," said Val Amos-King, president of the Democratic Business and Professional Women's Club.
King and dozens of others gathered at the Allure Hookah Lounge in west Toledo Thursday evening, taking in the speeches, including Harris', in which she formally accepted Democrats' nomination as the 2024 presidential candidate.
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"We know that she will build on what (President Joe) Biden has done and also implement some of her own ideas, which we are very excited about," Amos-King said.
Going into the speech, Schuyler Beckwith, chairwoman of the Lucas County Democrats, said she hoped Harris would share a vision of helping people in need, especially with housing.
"Building truly affordable housing for folks in our community between now and the next four years, she's committed to doing that work and I think that kind of message and that kind of commitment to the true needs of folks across the country is what's going to help them get them through the finish line," Beckwith said.
Harris' speech put the bow on the four-day convention in Chicago. But, local Republicans like Putnam County GOP chairman Tony Schroeder say all of the speeches at the DNC this year lacked substance.
"What has surprised me is how policy-free this has been," Schroeder said. "It's been kind of light and fluffy; it's sort of the cotton candy convention: it tastes good but there's not much to it."
With both party conventions complete, Schroeder thinks Harris needs to establish herself to the undecided voters.
"If she wants to win over voters that are not committed democrats already, lay out a reason to vote for her, that is other than 'I'm not Donald Trump,' because I believe President Trump's policies are going to be popular in the electorate and more importantly in the swing states where he has to win," Schroeder said.
However, Democrats feel the DNC was the fuel they needed for November.
"I think we had a good chance before, but with this joy that the ticket brings with Harris and Walz, with the reinvigoration of folks who maybe felt a little bit left out before, I really think that we have a chance to turn Ohio blue again," Beckwith said.