Denver at center of heated delegate fight

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 04:15 p.m., March 3, 2008
Updated 04:15 p.m., March 3, 2008

LAKEWOOD — It was supposed to be a casual conversation between the community and the Democratic National Convention Committee about the party's nominating convention and how it would impact the region.

But the first question out of the gate for DNCC Chief Executive Officer Leah Daughtry and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Lakewood, was about whether Michigan and Florida would, at any point, get delegates seated at the convention.

"Thank you for starting off with an easy question," Perlmutter said to laughs from the crowd of about 100 today. "I really appreciate that."

The two states are at the center of controversy in a protracted primary fight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the party nomination. The states were stripped of their delegates after moving their primaries up in violation of the party's rules. Clinton won both states, however, and some in her campaign have suggested the delegates be seated.

Perlmutter, a super delegate who has already pledged support to Obama, said, "the rules are the rules" but did allow that there is a chance delegates from those two states could find their way to Denver during the convention Aug. 25-28.

"We may modify that at some point, but at this point the rules of the game were decided last year," he said. "They went a different direction and that was their choice and the rules are going to exclude them at this point."

Michigan had 156 delegates and Florida had 210. Democratic National Committee officials have said publicly the only way those delegates get seated is if they hold a primary between now and June 3 or take it up with the Democratic National Committee's credentials committee this summer for a decision on the matter.

Denver is finding itself at the center of one of the more intense campaigns in recent history. Already it will be historic, with the Democrats nominating either a black man or a woman for president for the first time in history. Add to that a tight delegate count — about 100 pledged delegates separate the two candidates going into primaries in Ohio and Texas Tuesday - and suddenly there is a lot of attention on the city and the party.

The other questions from the crowd weren't easy, either. One attendee asked whether the union issues have been resolved.

They haven't, was the short answer.

Currently, a deal is still being worked out with hotel workers at the Hyatt downtown and there are still ongoing talks with construction unions that will work on the Pepsi Center for the convention as well at the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.

Daughtry said talks are ongoing with the unions and Perlmutter addressed how important they were.

"That's something that needs to get done," Perlmutter said of getting contracts signed. "We don't need to have that sticking in the craw of organized labor because they are being fantastic friends helping to build this party and they'll have delegates here."

The event in Lakewood was another in a series of community conversations between the DNCC and cities in the Rocky Mountain West. Previous community conversations have happened in Pueblo, Boulder and Las Vegas. The DNCC has another one coming up in Salt Lake City.