Governor Murphy and Democratic leaders now need to decide whether they'll hold a special election to fill Pascal's vacant seat for the few months remaining in the term or leave it open until after November 5th that's one of many conversations taking place among insiders who are at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week where Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walls is headlining tonight's big speeches the Obamas LED an impassioned call to American voters on Tuesday night pledging to help the Harris campaign in the final 11 weeks until the election and called on all Democrats to do the same reaching back to former president Barack Obama's 2008 Campaign theme saying quote hope is making a comeback while also diverting from their typical remarks to directly attack Donald Trump for more on how the convention is translating for voters watching at home I'm joined by veteran GOP strategist Chris Russell and Democratic strategist Dan Bryan who's at the convention in Chicago Chris and Dan thanks so much for joining me as we come on the air of course I'd like to get your thoughts about Bill Pascrell uh Dan I'll start with you of course a stall word of the democratic party it's a really sad day anyone that followed Bill Pascrell knew Bill Pascrell he he was not only a New Jersey treasure he was an American treasure he was a character he cared deeply about not only our state but his community in Paterson he had great stories um they they don't make him like Bill pasc anymore he was incredibly effective he was uh uh incredibly uh he he truly cared about doing the job and truly cared about the people um he's going to be greatly missed not only on a personal level but on a professional level here in New Jersey Chris you know Bill also had some cross-party appeal and I I like to think about his work with a lot of the First Responders and especially um post 911 what will you remember about him listen the old school politician right someone who uh knew how to throw a punch knew how to take a punch and um and and really you know had a career of Public Service in his home city of Paterson which uh he was so committed to and and um you know did have relationships on both sides of the aisle despite the fact that he had really sharp elbows as a partisan um and so you know you're not going to see guys like Bill Pascrell a lot anymore I think politics is changing and and uh you know he he represents an Old Guard but one that um you know I think be missed yeah he wasn't afraid to go there uh that's for sure no no he was not yeah uh let me shift gears then uh to of course the topic at hand which is the convention Dan you're in Chicago last night folks got not just one but two Obamas uh do you see that enthusiasm translating into votes I mean Michelle Obama essentially called on people to do something um and get out there and work for this campaign campaign yeah I mean I I'll start here you know I wasn't at the convention in 2008 in Denver when Barack Obama was first nominated but everyone here in Chicago is comparing this convention and the amount of energy and enthusiasm that you're seeing to that one um obviously both Michelle Obama and Barack Obama were phenomenal incredible last night it's going to be tough to top um but the it has been a really successful first two days but you're right bana you put on a show and they're getting a lot of viewers and it's it they' really pulled it off perfectly but it's got to translate to votes you know even riding the crest that we have seen K Harris is still pretty much 5050 if you look at um you know the the weighted averages right now and uh so not only do they have to stay where they are they've got to keep building especially in those critical blue uh blue wall swing States how do Republicans see this playing the Obamas last night are are both great speakers there's no two ways about that but even Michelle Obama almost you know made reference to the fact that you know since the uh Barack had left the White House that we've been in some dark place Joe B Joe Biden's been the president the last four years and Camala Harris has been his vice president that really is the issue they're trying to move away from and where Republicans need to get back to that this is about a failed Administration and one that isn't very popular and do not let Kamala Harris run away from that is there concern though about the momentum building or as Dan said that that she's in evoking the same type of excitement that Obama did in his 2008 run I was old enough to remember that a month ago Republicans had this great convention with all this excitement and momentum and and you know things EV been flow in politics so I think both parties will have these kind of spikes I think the 24/7 new cycle adds to that I think this race settles after Labor Day and and you're going to have you know 55 days to to Sprint to the finish and that's where the race is going be decided to to your point and Dan's Point despite all the noise the polls are very close the Battleground states are all within the margin of error um and the race still has to be decided I think the key for president Trump and Republicans is get back on the issues that were working before uh the switch which is talk about the economy talk about immigration talk about crime if they focus there and make this about Kamala Harris's record uh which again is Joe Biden's record and that is something that Democrats are desperately trying to get away from Dan does it feel different I mean I remember talking to folks leading up to the convention prior to when Biden dropped out that some were seeing this as maybe it would be more of a somber event maybe folks weren't going to show up that certainly uh is not the case at least from our Vantage Point here it seems like quite the party um does it feel different than it would have I can tell you that we had um plenty of credentials about a month ago and and now you can't find them um there it is definitely a lot of energy and enthusiasm listen Joe Biden has been a phenomenal president whether fair or unfair the polls just never showed that that um uh people wanted uh new new leadership to his credit he put party and country above himself stepped aside for kamla Harris there's absolutely no question be bran that you are seeing an incredible amount of enthusiasm energy there's an excitement here um I think it is certainly far different than it would have been a month ago again that's not to denigrate our current president who has done an unbelievable job but people were ready for a new candidate and they're getting one are they focusing though on the issues I mean as Chris says so much of what folks are talking about is economy and kitchen table issues and have Democrats steered too far away from that at this point uh listen if you're if you're again in the arena watching the programming what you hear talked about is affordability you hear about health care you're hearing about abortion you're hearing about the things that are top of people's minds these are the kitchen table issues especially in a place like New Jersey but around the country as well there's you know affordability is top of mind with inflation and everything else so no they've been pretty lazy laser focus on their messaging I will say they really have put affordability number one and then they know what motivates people to turn out which is you know a a Reproductive Rights uh um and everything else that that Democrats stand for but they put affordability number one in almost all their speeches Chris Democrats reached out and brought in a few former Trump supporters um and Republicans to speak out and sort of offer an indictment of him how successful uh was that in your eyes from watching this convention I don't I don't think it's successful I think all that stuff is baked in the cake and listen Republicans had the president of the teamer speak their conventions so again we've gone through this kind of metamorphosis or are still going through uh in in our politics and in our partisanship where there are people who are changing sides but I I don't think that stuff impacts Donald Trump uh I think you look at the Obamas last night the one thing that struck me was how negative their speeches were um that was not something that was a Hallmark certainly of either of them um again remember they go low we go high uh last night it was they go low we go lower so I I I think I'm struck by how negative their convention's been in that regard and I think they realize that's they they still to take down Donald Trump and things like having former Republicans come up and speak I don't think the average person at home is uh is moved by that kind of stuff Chris Russell Dan Bryan thanks so much to you both appreciate it thanks Bri