By Donald Gilpin

Charged up over the candidacy of Kamala Harris with only 78 days until Election Day, Princeton Democrats are hosting a Convention Night Watch Party Fundraiser this Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. They are urging supporters to “watch history in the making” on a big screen, as Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.

“We’re going to watch the convention from 7:30 onwards and see Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech live,” said Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) President Nick DiDomizio, who noted a significant boost in excitement over the past few weeks.

“I definitely saw a lot of enthusiasm after Biden stepped out of the race and Vice President Harris became the presumptive nominee,” DiDomizio said. “Before that there were a lot of people who were on the fence, and they weren’t willing to step in.”

Thursday’s PCDO event will be held at a private home in Princeton, DiDomizio added. Participants will receive information on the venue and other details when they register on the PCDO website at princetondems.org or email info@princetondems.org.

“Are you fired up over the excitement generated by VP Harris and Gov. Walz as they barnstorm across the country?,” reads the PCDO email blast titled “Princeton4Harris: We Need You!” “We’re building on the momentum, raising funds for a fall HQ, and growing our volunteer outreach efforts to help elect Harris-Walz, Andy Kim, and Democrats up and down the ballot!”

DiDomizio described the changed mood as Harris took over the top spot on the Democratic Party ticket. Sunday, July 21, the day Biden announced he was stepping down and endorsing Harris, was, coincidentally, the day of the annual PCDO picnic, held this year in Grover Park.

“The energy was palpable,” said DiDomizio. “You could really feel that. You could feel a great sense of hope in the crowd. Someone wore a Kamala Harris shirt from when she ran in 2020. All these people came together and you really saw a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of people who were really optimistic, and they were talking about what’s going to happen next.”

He continued, “I’ve definitely seen an uptick in interest, especially on social media. We have various ways for people to reach out to us, through social media or our website or email, and we’ve been getting tons and tons of inquiries about how people can help. We’re ready to take all the help we can get.”

Di Domizio explained that the PCDO has been compiling a list of volunteers and keeping them informed about events lined up for the coming weeks. The PCDO has been setting up tables in Princeton and elsewhere, registering people to vote, and letting them know about volunteering opportunities. They have also been scheduling postcard parties, writing to residents to urge them to vote.

Canvassing on the weekends, particularly in nearby Bucks County, Pa., has been a major focus for the organization. “In my opinion, that’s the most effective and fun way to reach out to voters,” said Di Domizio. “Pennsylvania is going to be the real tipping point. We’ve been organizing canvasses in Bucks County with Democrats there. We meet up here in Princeton, do a quick training, and drive over.”

Di Domizio, who has been doing canvassing and voter outreach for many years, explained that PCDO canvassers don’t just knock on random doors. Each canvasser gets a list of likely Democratic voters, mostly Democrats and Independents. “What we’re trying to do is remind people. In our bubble of Democratic politics we think everybody knows what’s going on in this election, but there are many voters out there who are not really tuned in to the race and what’s happening. We’re just reminding them: ‘Hey, make sure you have a plan for November. And make sure you’re getting out to vote.’”

He continued, “I tend to have fantastic conversations when canvassing. It helps connect people because sometimes we stay in our bubbles, so getting out there and going to these neighborhoods, you are actually having good conversations with people, getting different perspectives.”

In addition to Bucks County, the PCDO will also be canvassing in New Jersey — in Princeton and elsewhere — for Andy Kim in his race for U.S. Senate and in the neighboring 7th Congressional District where Democrat Sue Altman is in one of the most competitive House races in the country, against incumbent Thomas H. Kean Jr.

Di Domizio urged supporters, whether experienced campaigners or new to the experience, to join the PCDO, at the August 22 Convention Watch Party or in any of the various other volunteer initiatives. “You can be brand new to this,” he said. “Reach out. We have a space for you.”

Citing a certain darkness in the national mood, with “people stuck in these doom loops, scrolling on social media,” Di Domino noted, “We’re an opportunity to turn that angst and anxiety into action, kind of a release for all that.”