The convention had an unusually high attendance of 2118 registered delegates, surpassed only by last year's convention in San Diego where the major Democratic Presidential candidates, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Dodd, and Richardson appeared. [...]
We'll have more wrap up articles on the convention, which saw more bloggers and journalists writing on line credentialed as media than the traditional print, television, and radio journalists.
Bottom line: The party adopted a new platform, grassroots Democrats were pumped up for the year's elections with enthusiasm to turn blue seats in red territory, have over $6 million in the bank and have had a very good first quarter in raising money (in contradistinction to the bankrupt California Republican Party) and are in a great position for the November Presidential Election. (Emphasis added)
I've been attending the convention (my first state convention, actually), and the one thing that really struck me is how much more excitement is being paid to the Carole Migden-Mark Leno race than to the presidential election, likely a reflection of the audience. The convention naturally attracts activists, who know about the intricacies of that senate race and Migden's $9 million fine, especially because the convention is in San Jose, very close to Senate District 3. Others have focused on the dynamics of the race and the hijacks at the convention, but the sheer resources that are being expended at the convention, both by Migden and Leno, and by other potential candidates for office, and I have to wonder--why bother?
I'll be liveblogging the SD-3 regional endorsement battle between Senator Carole Migden, Assemblymember Mark Leno, and former Assemblymember Joe Nation. Stay tuned! This should be fun, horrifying, or a fascinating drama depending on your perspective.
[Update by Lucas] Leno campaign is reporting more than 50 Leno supporter ballots are missing. "Disenfranchisement" is running through the room.
5:41 -- Sorry for the delay. I had connection issues. One of the moderators assured the crowd that "this is a fair and open process, and we will wait for all ballots to be counted." Around 5:30 or so, Leno spoke followed by Migden. Both touted their records as one would expect. Said Leno, "Without choice, there is no accountability. Without accountability, there is no responsibility." Meanwhile, Migden emphasized the gender imbalance in the Senate, concluding her speech with "I am a woman. I am a woman. And let me just say, I still am a woman." Voting officially closed at 5:41, and they say results will be coming in 20 minutes or so.
6:29 -- Counting now. Attention Adam Borelli. You're wanted in room. Currently 15-9 Migden ahead.
6:38 -- Currently 46-27. About 270 in total.
6:47 -- Some dispute over a vote by Migden's folks. It would be a "fair and open process" if the moderators articulated into the microphone a little more! Seriously, I have no clue what that was about. Anyway, we're up to 75-57. Migden still ahead.
7:05 -- 128-97. Migden ahead.
7:13 -- Vote is 149-115 with 2 for Nation, 2 without endorsement, 1 challenge against Leno, 1 questionable, and 2 unmarked. That leaves the unofficial but close enough for this famished soul tally at 55% Migden and 42% Leno. The next step: once the vote is finalized, Leno folks are going to try and gather enough signatures (300) of delegates to remove the endorsement from the consent calendar. If they succeed, the endorsement vote will happen during a general session with all delegates able to vote. The Leno folks have until 11 pm to gather the signatures. Obviously, the missing ballot issue earlier delayed this process a bit. I suspect this isn't the last we've heard of that incident from the Leno campaign.
I have a question for the community reading this blog. I'm a delegate in the CA 44th Assembly District. I attended our last CA Democratic Convention and was disappointed in the lack of tangible things for me to do as a delegate. With rare exception it seemed like one big party/get-together.
Are there some more experienced CA delegates that can offer either a) perspective or b) ideas on how to make it a worthwhile effort to attend?
The person who is on the E-Board for our district has done NOTHING to lead. I would like to organize our AD to come together on one issue which we could push at the upcoming CA Democratic Convention - you know...make it a worthwhile activity to attend for all the 44 AD delegates.
Hope I can get some feedback here or at my email address - pbriggs@greeneggsandham.org
Regards,
Patrick Briggs,
Pasadena DFA Chapter Leader and 44 AD Delegate
(The only speech that I and a good chunk of the Calitics staff missed was the Edwards speech, so I thought I'd promote this. This was also the feeling I got in the hall. - promoted by dday)
I wrote this for today's Beyond Chron, San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily
This weekend, all the major Democratic presidential candidates attended the California Democratic Convention in San Diego to solicit support from the party faithful. Although getting out of Iraq was top on the mind of party delegates, Hillary Clinton's campaign had a surprising show of support - but she lost most of the crowd by refusing to apologize for initially supporting the War. Barack Obama was treated like a rock star and gave a powerful speech, but despite being the only major candidate who opposed the War from the start failed to do what he should have done: hit a home run the way Howard Dean did in 2003. John Edwards did not have much of a campaign presence at the convention until he spoke on Sunday morning, when many of the delegates had already left. But for those who stuck around to hear Edwards speak, his concrete progressive proposals coupled with a passionate and eloquent message won many converts on the Convention floor - including possibly myself.
(This event is TOMORROW, and I hope to see many of you there! : ) - promoted by atdleft)
What do you have to say to YOUR Democratic Party about ending the Iraq War?
The Laguna Woods Democratic Club wants to give Orange County Democrats a chance to tell their representatives to the state party how they feel about ending the Iraq War. On March 31, the club will be hosting Defining the New Direction: Orange County Democrats Voice Their Views on the War in Iraq. This will give Democrats from throughout Orange County a chance to talk to the delegates who will be representing them at the CDP Convention next month about how, when, and why they want to see the Iraq War end. As the delegates prepare to vote on resolutions regarding the war, this is a chance for local Democrats to tell the delegates what they think.
Follow me after the flip for all the details on this important forum...
