Far North Visits Deep South at DNC

Several Democratic delegates from “up North” are “down South” at their national convention in Charlotte this week.

Marv Finendale of Superior is enjoying the Southern hospitality.He says locals are wearing “ask me” signs to help.And then there’s the Dixie food. “I did try some grits though in our morning breakfast and they were excellent,” he says.

Finendale says he hopes tonight’s speech by President Obama spells out the specifics of another term. “He can say what he plans for the next four years,” he says.”You know what Clinton said yesterday, when he got the presidency and he got the surplus, he didn’t do it in the first four years.You look at the record.He didn’t.He did it in the next four years.”

Kaeleen Ringberg is also a 7th Congressional District delegate from Ashland.She says the Wisconsin delegation is getting lots of attention.”They find out you’re from Wisconsin, you’re the hero of the convention,” she says.”If you have a Wisconsin button, people just thank you, how proud they are of you.There’s a lot of pride right now with the Wisconsin delegation.”

Northland College Sociology Professor Kevin Shanning of Delta is also in Charlotte.He says there’s lots of anticipation for tonight. “Everybody you talk to is like, we can’t wait for President Obama to speak,” he says.”We think he’s going to just hit one out of the park.”

Shanning says it’s important that Obama tackles the tough issues like healthcare and rebuilding the economy.