Exclusive: Clyburn says Democrats need a “lovefest” at DNC

What he's saying: Pointing to contested Democratic primaries in 1968, 1972 and 1980 that preceded stinging general election losses, Clyburn told Axios' Mike Allen that the party doesn't "win when we show ourselves to the American people as being in disarray."

• Clyburn cited the following as a losing dynamic: "A big argument on the [convention] floor, do that for four days ... and then go out to the American people and say, 'I'm ready to bring the country together, though I couldn't get together at my convention."
• Democrats "need to go into Chicago together. Go there, have a lovefest, hold ourselves out to the American people as someone who knows how to get along with each other," he said.

State of play: Clyburn's remarks come as Harris has effectively sown up the Democratic nomination thanks to widespread support from the party.

• Clyburn, whose support helped revive Biden's flagging primary campaign in 2020, opposed Biden being ousted from the ticket.
• But he has staunchly supported Harris as the 81-year-old president's only valid replacement.