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Mark Warner, Bob Casey, and other Democratic Convention Notes |
by Ian M Fried :: Filed Under Special Topics :: August 13th, 2008 @ 12:01 pm EST
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Some details are coming together concerning the speaker’s list at the Democratic Convention in Denver:
- Mark Warner, current Senate candidate and former Virginia Governor will be the Keynote Speaker Tuesday night. Two thoughts: First, I am guessing that Tim Kaine is now out of the running for VP as highlighting Warner, who would have been the better VP choice from Virginia if he hadn’t run for Senate, would seem unnecessary if Kaine were VP. Could be wrong on this but that is my guess. Hillary Clinton is also scheduled to speak Tuesday night, but it looks like her role won’t be so prominent.
- Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey will also be speaking Tuesday night. This is significant as the rebuffing of his father in 1992 because he was anti-choice caused a rift in the party at that time. It is a good signal that the convention will show a “big tent” party by letting a prominent critic of abortion speak, even if almost all of those in the attendance will disagree with him on that issue.
- It is still unclear as to whether Hillary Clinton’s name will placed in nomination. There are some pretty rabid Clinton backers out there (PUMA is only one group) who actually believe that if there is a roll call vote at the convention that she could still pull it out. Delusional, but the Obama campaign fears an event that they can’t control, with the potential of some angry Clinton supporters making a scene. But they should still go ahead with the roll call — it is a highlight of the convention, shows that the Democrats are not afraid of showing their diversity, and as Hillary Clinton herself said, it could be cathartic for he supporters to have a chance to support her in Denver. Just don’t do it in primetime.
Note that The Seminal will be at the convention in Denver August 24-28, giving our own unconventional coverage.
I love the roll call! It’ my favorite part of the convention. Even though there hasn’t been a primary race go the convention floor in my lifetime, it’s still a great symbol of our democratic system.