CLEVELAND — For many Northeast Ohio Democrats, Joe Biden's selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate was a no brainer.
"My phone blew up yesterday, this morning I was getting text messages, where do I get a Biden-Harris yard sign, I'm like they're not even out yet," said Shayla Davis of Garfield Heights. She and other Black Democrats gathered Wednesday to announce the formation of the Black Elected Democrats of Cuyahoga County.
"She's a woman of exceptional intellect, exceptional pride and valor you can't help but be excited to support and uplift and represent her," Davis said.
Annette Blackwell of Maple Heights appreciates the "firsts" Harris represents having been elected herself as the first black mayor and first woman mayor of Maple Heights. She says Harris will stand with Biden but stand for all women.
"It is a sense of validation finally, it is a sense of overcoming and saying it's just yes I keep saying in my head over and over yes, yes," Blackwell said.
Cleveland Clerk of Courts Earl Turner tells News 5 his excitement is not just as a Democrat but as a father.
"I have three daughters and it's important for me as a father to see that you know this opportunity because I know if the opportunity is made available for her there are going to be opportunities for my daughters," Turner said.
The key for the Biden camp will be sustaining that level of enthusiasm into the fall, something Hillary Clinton was unable to do in Ohio four years ago.
But Senior Trump Campaign Advisor Bob Paduchik, who ran the Ohio campaign for Trump in 2016, cautions Harris' positions that fire up Democrats will also fire up Republicans.
"It shows how far Joe Biden's willing to embrace the radical left-wing of his party," Paduchik said. "It shows that he is willing to go as far left as he needs to go to keep his base."
"I would think if she was able to excite the Democratic Party base she would have done better in her own presidential campaign," he said. "She dropped out before any votes were cast."
Still, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge tells News 5 Harris brings a dynamic to the race that hasn't been seen in a vice-presidential pick in some time.
"I think she identifies with so many people I mean when you think about the fact that black people identify with her, immigrants identify with her, people who grew up in households where there is a single parent they identify with her, people who believe in justice identify with her. She brings a whole different perspective to the ticket."
