Published 10:48 IST, August 21st 2020

Former Democratic candidates rally for Biden votes

Candidates who ran in the 2020 Democratic primary, including some who vied for the vice presidency, joined forces to fight for more votes for Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris.

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Candidates who ran in the 2020 Democratic primary, including some who vied for the vice presidency, joined forces to fight for more votes for Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who removed herself from the VP selection process in June, has continued to call for unity among the Democratic base during convention appearances and during watch parties.

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As a moderate Democrat, Klobuchar is also pleased with the tactic of reaching to Republicans who may be tired of President Donald Trump.

"It also means, as Joe Biden has done, reaching out to people like Governor Kate sic or Cindy McCain that narrated that video and reports some number of Republicans all over the country," Klobuchar said. "This is really about unity for our country. As I said the other night, 'E Pluribus Unum.' Out of many one. And so we have to remember that."

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During a pre-convention event hosted by the Texas Democratic Party, former congressman Beto O'Rourke said voting blue up and down the ballot can lead to flipping more seats in the US House and Senate, and also bring new voters into the process.

"It is going to run straight up the ballot to MJ Hagar and straight up from there to Joe Biden. So instead of coattails coming down from the presidential race, it's going to be the power of people flowing u," O'Rourke said. "And I firmly believe, thanks to all these great state House candidates and everyone on this call. Joe Biden will become the first Democrat since 1976 to win the Electoral College vote in Texas. That's how important these state House races are."

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For Stacy Abrams, a potential VP pick who narrowly lost the race to be the governor of Georgia which involved voter suppression stressed that the focus in the coming 75 days is to reach voters who feel "ignored."

"We have to recognize that we win elections on the margins. And particularly for communities of color, those margins have become invisible," Abrams said. "It's not that these aren't people who share our values. It's that they don't know we share theirs and they don't know that we believe in them."

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Julian Castro, a former cabinet pick under President Barak Obama, believes that more Democrats need to make a stronger distinction between themselves and their Republican colleagues.

"Voting for the Republican-led budget, cutting their deals, you know, not being bold enough and progressive enough. And I really believe that we need Democrats that people understand what those distinctions are," Castro said. "That doesn't mean that you shouldn't work together with, you know, and compromise at times with the other party. But it does mean that we need to fight even harder for our principles."

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10:48 IST, August 21st 2020