Hamilton Co. Democrats Urge Statewide Unity, GOP Leaders Point To Sanders’ Supporters in Philadelphia

The FBI is now investigating the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee.

Release of those emails on-line has created another breach among supporters of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.

That was one of the hot topics among local officials of both parties, as the Democratic National Convention got underway.

Here’s what local political leaders on both sides are saying.

Just like at the GOP convention, there’s a seething controversy as the Democratic convention gets underway in Philadelphia.

The new director of the Hillary Clinton for America campaign in Tennessee says he believes the party can overcome problems raised by the treatment of Bernie Sanders by deposed DNC chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and the release of emails that proved it.

TYLER YOUNT, TN STATE DIRECTOR, CLINTON FOR AMERICA  “She’s basically you know grateful for Debbie’s leadership in the democratic party..and saw this as kind of a step that she took to unify things going into the convention.”

Tyler Yount says most Tennessee democrats are unifying to support Clinton.

TYLER YOUNT “We always felt we were stronger together in this campaign, and we’ve seen a lot of unifying activity across the state. A lot of Sanders supporters and active Hillary supporters working together to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump in November.”

But Chattanooga republicans, pushing aside differences over the nomination of Donald Trump, were elated about the feuding in Philadelphia.

TONY SANDERS, CHAIRMAN, HAM. CO. GOP “You know the Bernie factor..Bernie supporters haven’t seemed to really care for Hillary anyway. This going to make them care a lot less.”

SEN. TODD GARDENHIRE, (R) CHATTANOOGA  “They have a candidate that absolutely can’t tell the truth if her life depended on it ..and has a history of it. It’s not just one thing, it goes all the way back for 20-30 years.”

Political leaders may ask, what will democrats need to do this week, to repair the damage?

VINCE DEAN, HAM. CO CRIMINAL COURT CLERK  “You know I don’t want to give the democrats any advice on how to bring their party together. ..Or give the democrats any advice on what they’ve done wrong..if they don’t know what they’ve done wrong I don’t think I’m the one to tell them what to do to correct it.”

Tyler Yount says Chattanooga democrats will gather at Mellow Mushroom Thursday night for a “watch party.”