'Chant Lady' "Fired Up Ready To Go Edith Childs Headed to Democratic National Convention

© Com•Log•ic 2008

Greenwood County Councilwoman Edith Childs had no idea that her chants of "fired up, ready to go" at a January town meeting attended by Senator Barack Obama would sweep the nation and carry her to the August 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. But it did. News that Childs would be a SC delegate to the four-day convention came late from SC Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler but "just in time to pack a few bags and take my work on behalf of the people of Greenwood County all the way to Denver," said Childs, a longtime community leader and avid Obama supporter.

Childs was active during the primary election season speaking before Obama supporter rallies in the Carolinas. "I traveled to Aiken, Charleston and over to Charlotte, NC and other places taking my belief that we are ready for fundamental changes in our government and that Senator Obama is the person best able to unite the country," Childs stated. Childs has had direct talks with Obama and his campaign staff since meeting the Senator in January in Greenwood.

In Denver, Childs will attend daily convention briefings, caucus meetings and training sessions in addition to nightly speeches by party leaders. "Wednesday's convention session is very important because that's when South Carolina's own Congressman James Clyburn delivers a major speech," Childs noted. Clyburn is the powerful Majority Whip in the US House of Representatives and a national figure in the Democratic Party. The roll-call vote for President also takes place that same night.

Childs will be among the 75,000 persons to attend Obama's acceptance speech on Thursday night at Invesco Field. "I'll be wearing my hat and a smile as usual and focused, not on the lights and the roar of the crowd, but on Senator Obama's message," she said. Childs believes it is entirely possible that the "fired up, ready to go" chant might ignite at the stadium as it has so many times before at Obama rallies all across the nation. "That would be just fine with me," Childs noted. "I can't think of a better way to summon the enthusiasm and support we'll need in order to achieve victory in November."

Immediately after the convention Childs will resume work in voter registration and mobilization efforts in Greenwood. "I've met many folks who are eligible but not yet registered to vote. Hopefully the Denver trip gives me some talking points to use when I'm back home encouraging others to get fired up and get registered!"