(Lafayette, California)
Thousands of California Democrats turned out Sunday to vote for delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August. While so much attention has focused on the "Super Delegates," little attention has been paid to the process of selecting the rank-and-file delegates.
The Clinton caucus for the 10th Congressional District was held at the Veterans Building in Lafayette. Outside, potential delegates lobbied voters. Some paired up and ran as a ticket.
Longtime party activists Robert Camacho and Kath Delaney decided to run as a team for two of the three Clinton delegate slots:
"I've raised thousands of dollars. I've made calls every day," Delaney said. "My support of Sen. Clinton is unwavering. I'll do everything to get her in the White House," she added.
It was Hillary Clinton who suggested that no delegates be committed to any one candidate. They may vote any way they want when they get to the convention in Denver; but delegate candidate Camacho said he will not budge. "The only person who could get me to change my vote is Hillary Clinton," Camacho said. The team approach worked. Camacho and Delaney were elected delegates.
A few miles away in Walnut Creek, supporters of Sen. Barack Obama gathered at the Jewish Community Center to elect their delegates.
Everyone we spoke with Sunday said they had never seen anything like the turnout. Normally delegate selection is a mundane party responsibility, seldom covered by the press. But this year, in a razor thin race between Obama and Clinton, the voter turnout and the public attention were unprecedented. Ken Richards and Kathy Klein were chosen as the Obama delegates from District 10.
Next week I will be reporting from the Pennsylvania Primary in Philadelphia. Until then, keep checking for updates at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
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