Graben in Charlotte to Help Nominate Obama

The Greenville County Democratic Party hasn’t had too much to get excited about of late. Most of its candidates were r. And the party hasn’t held a significant office in the state since Ernest Hollings retired in 2005.

But that doesn’t mean county chair Eric Graben isn’t excited about the future—the near future specifically. Graben, who is an attorney at the Wyche law firm in Greenville, is in Charlotte this week to help nominate Pres. Barack Obama to a second term.

Graben was elected party chair in March and it’s his first trip to the National Convention. “I’m looking forward to showing the flag for our county and to meet other Democrats from across the country,” Graben told Patch.

While Democrats are enthusiastic about Obama’s chances of re-election and are united in trying to make it happen, the Palmetto State is still firmly Republican, especially in the Upstate. So Graben is doing what he can to help North Carolina go for the president by helping to send volunteers north to help work in the manty campaign offices across the state.

Polls show the Tar Heel State is a toss-up and Graben thinks having the convention in Charlotte will make a difference. “I think it will have a big impact in the get-out-the-vote efforts and that’s what really matters.”

Graben believes voters will have a clear choice. “Our platform supports the middle class and not the wealthy and trickle down economics that have never worked,” he explained. “Our solutions are more realistic and in order to solve the deficit problems we will have to raise taxes and not because we like to.”

He also believes that the Republican Party will be hurt by its move to the right. “The GOP has catered to the Tea Party, which doesn’t offer much in the way of solutions,” Graben said. “Every one believes we have problems, but the Republicans aren’t asking any one wants to make sacrifices. That’s very appealing to people’s self-interest.”

Graben also feels the Republicans have a flawed candidate in Mitt Romney.

“He was able to accomplish some things through compromise while he was governor of Massachusetts,” Graben said. “But he’s run away from all the compromises while campaigning for president.”