It’s a Done Deal: NY Times Reports Clinton’s Name Will Be on the Ballot

The Caucus (NY Times) is running a little behind with this news, but Jeff Zeleney has just reported what we posted earlier, it’s a done deal:

“Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s name will be placed into nomination at the Democratic National Convention, a symbolic move approved by the Obama campaign in an effort to soothe a lingering rift with Clinton supporters.

“The decision was reached this week, according to Democratic officials, and will be announced later today. It comes after long negotiations on both sides, with many backers of Mrs. Clinton vigorously pushing for her candidacy to be validated by giving her delegates the chance to support her through a roll call vote.

“For Democrats inside the convention center in Denver, as well as the television audience at home, it could create some interesting moments. After the state-by-state roll is tallied, Mrs. Clinton is expected to turn over her cache of delegates to Senator Barack Obama.

“So how will Mrs. Clinton, who is a superdelegate herself, vote? Associates say she will throw her lot behind Mr. Obama and ask her supporters to follow suit. To see if it unfolds as the Obama campaign hopes – free of acrimony – tune in on Wednesday, Aug. 27."

Why Shouldn’t Clinton’s Name Be on the Ballot in Denver?

Here’s a big surprise: Keating Holland, CNN’s polling director, provides helpful background information on prior Democratic conventions that doesn’t preclude having Hillary Clinton’s name on the ballot in Denver.

Holland writes:

“WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If Sen. Hillary Clinton's name is placed in nomination in Denver, Colorado, this year, it wouldn't be the first time that a candidate was beaten in the primaries and still formally contested the nomination at the convention.


“Sen. Hillary Clinton can win votes from delegates at the convention even if her name isn't placed in nomination.

“But it would be the first time in the modern era of presidential primaries that a losing candidate has so visibly endorsed an opponent so many months before the convention, and then gone on to have his or her name placed in nomination.

“Clinton can still win votes from delegates at the Democratic National Convention even if her name is not placed in nomination. Delegates are free to vote for anyone they want to at the convention.

“At past conventions, delegates have even been known to vote for fictional characters (Archie Bunker) and dead people (George Orwell).

“It's likely that Clinton will pick up some votes unless Sen. Barack Obama is nominated by acclamation. Watch more on the Democrats' pursuit of unity »

“But the buzz is that Clinton may take it a step further and have her name formally placed before the convention, complete with nominating speeches, seconding speeches and all the hoopla they produce. Such a move hasn't happened at either party's convention since 1992, when former California Gov. Jerry Brown had his name placed in nomination after losing the race to Bill Clinton in the primaries.”
Read more.

Defining “Open Convention” for the DNC

Since I’m no longer a member of the Democratic Party, I didn’t receive the email from the DNC that Heidi Li Feldman responded to yesterday at her blog. Reading this latest outrage from Democratic Party officials confirmed the wisdom of my choice to register this time around as non-affiliated.

It was necessary for Heidi Li, a law professor at Georgetown University, to define “open convention” for the DNC.

To read the DNC’s email to party members and Heidi Li’s post titled The DNC stoops to new lows in latest propaganda, go here.

To read Marc Rubin’s response to the same email from the DNC, go here.

Keeping Hillary Clinton’s Name on the Ballot in Denver

Marc Rubin posted a heads up for the latest ad from the Denver Group at Heidi Li’s Potpourri. Published in the CQ Daily on July 17, Rubin notes the ad targets Hill Democrats and other major DC players. The ad asserts Hillary Clinton’s right to be on the ballot in Denver, pointing out that in 1932 FDR won only on the fourth ballot in a contentious convention.

In bold letters, the ad asks if Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi would have kept FDR's name off the ballot.

To see an enlarged version of the ad, click here.

The Denver Group’s Question: The Democratic Party or the Boston Tea Party?

In fulfilling its mission to help keep the Democratic party democratic, the Denver Group’s first ad appeared today, Friday, July 11 in the Chicago Tribune: “Will Howard Dean and the DNC turn the Democratic Party into the Boston Tea Party?” To see an enlarged online version of the ad, go here.

Founded by Heidi Li Feldman (Heidi Li’s Potpourri) and Marc Rubin (TominPaine), the Denver Group’s specific goals are listed below:

An open convention;

Senator Clinton's name placed in nomination. No symbolic roll call vote;

Speeches allowed by supporters of Senator Clinton on behalf of her candidacy;

A genuine roll call vote with Senator Clinton as a legitimate candidate; and

No coronation.

The Denver Group’s email address: The Denvergroup@Gmail.com

Geeklove's New Video on the Denver Group

Geeklove was inspired to create a new video after listening to No Quarter's Bud White interview Heidi Li Feldman and Marc Rubin, founders of the Denver Group.

Watch Geeklove's stirring video on the Denver Group here.