Wisconsin to play key role at DNC as final preparations wrap up

CHICAGO (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin Democrats are flocking to Chicago this week for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Festivities will be split between the McCormick Place convention hall during the day and the United Center arena each night for primetime programming.

For the Democrats, it's a return to an in-person convention. Several officials said they're eager to make up for lost time after COVID wiped out the Milwaukee convention in 2020.

For much of Sunday, August 18, organizers rehearsed inside the United Center for some of the primetime events. They're hoping to ramp up excitement for a convention that's been eight years in the making.

Jamie Harrison, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, told us on the convention floor, "There's so much momentum, not only in Wisconsin, but across the country right now."

Harrison said that momentum will be reflected in the events and excitement planned throughout Chicago the entire week.

Harrison said, "Every day is going to be amazing, knock-out day."

Each day of the convention will feature a different theme, and each night's keynote address will showcase a heavy hitter, like President Biden, former President Obama, Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz, and finally, Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

And Wisconsin will play a prominent role.

Jason Rae is the Democratic National Committee's secretary. He said, "I'm really, really excited by the energy we're seeing on the ground in Wisconsin."

Rae lives in Glendale, Wisconsin.

He'll be in the national spotlight Tuesday night, leading the celebratory roll call from the stage.

Rae says the energy in his home state for the Harris-Walz ticket mirrors what the party is seeing from coast to coast.

Rae said, "I've had people who've not been involved with politics before reaching out to me saying, 'Hey, what can I do? How can I make sure that I get out and do everything I can to make sure we elect Kamala Harris as President and Tim Walz as Vice President?'"

Democratic leaders said they chose Chicago to host the DNC in part because of its proximity to Wisconsin and other Midwest states they call the "blue wall".

Harrison was emphatic when he told us, "Wisconsin is one of the battleground states."

Matt Hill, a senior director of communications for the convention, said, "Wisconsin a really critical state, obviously, to Democrats."

Because battleground Wisconsin is a campaign prize, Wisconsinites will be featured throughout the week.

Hill said, "That includes people like Governor Evers and the Senator and other members of Congress. Democrats up and down the ballot are going to be featured throughout the week as part of their delegation here."

Governor Tony Evers is scheduled to announce the state's delegates Tuesday.

But Republicans are targeting Wisconsin just as much as Democrats.

Rae said, "I think it really shows Wisconsin is a battleground state, and that we cannot take anything for granted."

And because of that, the effort to win the state obviously won't end after the convention. Democrats are already circling their next trips to Wisconsin in the weeks ahead and all the way into election day.

Harrison said, "We're going to spend a lot of time, energy, and effort. I'm looking forward to spending more time in Wisconsin over the course of the next few weeks."

The convention gavels in at the United Center Monday night at 5:15 p.m. for the primetime programming.