Chicago throws party for delegates at Navy Pier a night ahead of DNC

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The evening before the Democratic National Convention was set to begin in Chicago, the city threw a welcome party for the thousands of delegates at the Navy Pier Ballroom.

It came with a very different vibe for the party than four weeks ago—when President Biden was still the 2024 nominee.

As they consumed blue drinks at the party Sunday night, America's blue party was awash in fresh optimism.

"A reinvigoration and fresh start for the party," said Julia Brown, a delegate from New Mexico.

"The excitement is palpable for sure," said Samer Salhab, a delegate from Texas who agreed the excitement would not be there in the same way if Mr. Biden were still the candidate.

From all 50 states, they arrived—a red-carpet operation that swooped delegates from their hotel lobbies, drove them the length of Navy Pier to the ballroom at the east end.

The ballroom was not open to the news media, but authorities had it very well protected.

Some of those attending the party went all out with their attire. Aphrodite McCarthy, a volunteer from Texas, was wearing a blue hat with flashing lights reading, "Kamala," that she said she just put together earlier Sunday.

It was reflective of what could be a first for the party and country—an African American female president.

"I can't explain it to you how exciting it is to be in this time and this age," said Texas delegate Dr. Lyndia Thomas.

What they can explain is while they are thankful President Biden stepped aside, they are also appreciative of what he's done for the party.

"What he's done—he's irreplaceable, but the baton has been given to her," said Cheryl Smith, "and it's her time. She's brought in all these young people. He's irreplaceable."

"I knocked on a lot of doors for Biden, and I'll knock double the number of doors for Kamala Harris," said Texas delegate Emad Salem.

Delegates from Ohio said at the event that the Electoral College map is in such flux, they believe states that have become reliably red, like Ohio, could be in play after this DNC week.

"Ohio has been mis-thought of as a red state. We're a gerrymandered state," said Ohio delegate and state Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland). "We are at play, and we are here to let people know that we are going to do what it takes to make sure we win Ohio."

"We're going to get what we didn't get with Hillary Clinton in Kamala Harris," said Ohio delegate and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner, "and I'm looking forward to not just, you know, Chicago, but going back home, knocking on doors, getting folks registered to participate. Civic engagement is everything right now."

Meanwhile, delegates from Illinois include everyone from the Rev. Jesse Jackson to Star Jones, and local mayors and faith leaders. The youngest delegate at the convention is a 19-year-old from the North Shore named Claire Satkiewicz.