| DNC DESCENDS: The Shedd Aquarium was bustling Wednesday with the main players connected to the recent 2024 Democratic National Convention news. Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) — who have all had essential and varying roles in securing the host role — joined Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison to run a verbal victory lap. Capstone moment: Harrison sang the praises of the Illinois politicians who saw the deal through, particularly Lightfoot, who he called “key” to the process. It’s also a chance to defend the city. “We have too many things out there in the mouths of pundits and critics who talk about our city in a way that’s unrecognizable to us who live here,” Lightfoot said. “This will help us right that wrong and tell the truth about the best city in the United States, bar none.” Biden name-drops: During the event, Lightfoot said the “road to reelection [for] Biden-Harris for another term has to go through the Midwest." Harrison also mentioned the president and VP, saying next year’s event can be the opportunity to celebrate that they didn’t get in 2020 due to the onset of the Covid pandemic. Multiple people touted the convention as an opportunity for Biden and Harris to make a strong showing together again — as nominees. “We are America,” Harrison told the diverse crowd. “And you will see America on full display when the president and the vice president once again accept their nominations and course over to reelection.” Also note: During the last in-person Democratic convention — 2016 in Philadelphia — delegates voted to adopt the “most progressive” platform in the party’s history at the time. Now, politicians across Chicago, Illinois and the Midwestern “Blue Wall” want to make the case for furthering that message. Pritzker, Johnson, Duckworth and others reaffirmed the idea that the Midwest is both key to holding the White House and the region that best represents America. And the bill? Pritzker repeated that he’s committed to making sure that the convention does not end in debt, but did not answer a question about whether he’d be writing the check (h/t Heather Cherone and Mary Ann Ahern). Always a Bulls angle: Johnson called himself Steve Kerr for making the last shot in getting Biden to go with Chicago over Atlanta and New York: “I took the final shot, Chicago.” No word yet on who’s the Phil Jackson or Dennis Rodman of the deal. Some video highlights are here.
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