{"id":40015,"date":"2024-08-26T10:23:04","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=40015"},"modified":"2024-08-26T10:23:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:23:05","slug":"cronkite-news-democrats-showcase-u-s-senate-candidate-at-big-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/08\/26\/cronkite-news-democrats-showcase-u-s-senate-candidate-at-big-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Democrats showcase U.S. Senate candidate at big convention"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWATCH: Rep. Ruben Gallego speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention | 2024 DNC Night 4\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego spoke Thursday on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, an evening focused on the future as Kamala Har…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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PBS Newshour:\r\nRep. Ruben Gallego speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, in tight Senate race with Kari Lake, showcased on final night of Democratic National Convention<\/div>\r\n
Monday, August 26, 2024<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nCHICAGO, Illinois — Democrats put a bright spotlight on Phoenix Rep. Ruben Gallego at their national convention, underscoring the importance of his race with Republican Kari Lake for an open U.S. Senate seat.

<\/P>\r\nBoth hope to succeed Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who announced in March that she would not seek reelection. Democrats would struggle to keep their narrow majority if they lose in Arizona.

<\/P>\r\n \r\n\u201cI\u2019m a dad, husband, congressman and the proudest Arizonan you will ever meet,\u201d Gallego said in his speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, a few speakers ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 nomination acceptance speech.

<\/P>\r\nLake, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, had a prime-time speaking slot<\/a> on the second night of the Republican National Convention in July. The former Phoenix television news anchor narrowly lost the 2022 governor\u2019s race to Gov. Katie Hobbs.

<\/P>\r\nGallego is leading in the latest polls and has collected endorsements<\/a> from Republicans and independents in recent weeks, but the race remains tight.

<\/P>\r\nHe has distanced himself this week from President Joe Biden and Harris on border security, criticizing them for failing to adequately secure the border.

<\/P>\r\n\"Ruben<\/a>

Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona, speaks to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, 2024. Photo by Kelechukwu Iruoma \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nGallego made no mention of Lake, saving his fire for Trump, who he slammed for denigrating the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a prisoner of war for 5 \u00bd years during the Vietnam War.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cPoliticians like Donald Trump, they don\u2019t stand with us,\u201d Gallego said. \u201cThey called patriots like Sen. McCain \u2018losers.\u2019 John McCain was an American hero. Show some respect!\u201d

<\/P>\r\nNow in his fifth House term, Gallego highlighted his combat experience in Iraq as a U.S. Marine and his passion for veterans\u2019 care. In Congress he advocated for a 2022 law that provides health coverage for over 1 million veterans exposed to burn pits and toxins. Gallego openly talks about his PTSD.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cWe have a duty to care for our patriots,\u201d he said from the convention stage, before calling other Democrat veterans serving as elected officials in Congress and at the state and local level to join him.

<\/P>\r\nSen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who lost her legs as a helicopter pilot in Iraq, was among them.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cThese veterans represent the best of our country,\u201d Gallego said.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cHe has the hearts of the people in the United States,\u201d delegate Robert Branscomb, vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, said afterward. \u201cI\u2019m proud to say I\u2019m a fellow Arizonan with Ruben Gallego.\u201d

<\/P>\r\n\"Ruben<\/a>

Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, 2024. Photo by Kelechukwu Iruoma \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, also spoke on the final night of the convention.

<\/P>\r\nJoined by her husband, Giffords spoke as part of a segment devoted to gun violence. She recounted a 2011 shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and a dozen wounded. After a long recovery, she has become a leading voice on efforts to curb gun violence.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cA man tried to assassinate me,\u201d she said. \u201cI almost died, but I fought for my life, and I survived.\u201d

<\/P>\r\nHarris vetted Kelly as a potential running mate before choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

<\/P>\r\nIn his speech, the senator \u2013 a Navy combat pilot during the first Gulf War in 1990 and 1991 \u2013 warned that Trump would weaken U.S. security and is especially weak when it comes to Russia.

<\/P>\r\nDuring Operation Desert Storm, he recalled, \u201cAmerica rallied our allies to kick out a tyrant who invaded a neighbor. Today, Vladimir Putin is testing whether we\u2019re still that strong. Iran, North Korea and especially China watch closely.\u201d

<\/P>\r\nKelly invoked Trump\u2019s statement at a campaign event in February that he would let Russia do \u201cwhatever the hell they want.\u201d

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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tArizona Democrats leave convention eager to propel Kamala Harris to White House\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Arizona delegates return from the Democratic National Convention determined to help Vice President Kamala Harris win the state and the White House.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Cronkite\t\tCronkite News\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nTrump faced backlash for the comment, and Kelly glossed over the context. The former president was saying that he would withhold U.S. protection from NATO allies that failed to spend enough on their own defense.

<\/P>\r\nKelly told Democrats Thursday night that Harris \u201chas always championed America\u2019s support for NATO, for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people.\u201d

<\/P>\r\nArizona delegates were excited to see so many state leaders center stage, and pleased at their treatment at the Democratic convention \u2013 befitting the state\u2019s status as a 2024 battleground in both the Senate and presidential contests.

<\/P>\r\n\u201cI remember when Arizona would be placed in the rafters,\u201d said state Sen. Brian Fernandez, a delegate from Phoenix. \u201cNow, they\u2019ve got a prime spot on the convention floor.\u201d

<\/P>\r\n\r\nFor more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A>.<\/STRONG>\r\n

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Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News<\/a>. It is published via a Creative Commons license<\/A>. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication<\/A> at Arizona State University<\/A>.<\/EM>
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