Clinton to rise again at convention

Hillary Clinton appears to have won herself a consolation prize at this year’s Democratic Party Convention (August 25-28). Not only has the former presidential candidate been given a prime speaking slot on the convention’s second night, she will also have her delegates counted and recognised alongside Barack Obama’s during the traditional state-by-state delegation roll-call vote.

This does not mean that she will be entering the convention as a contender to Obama - she lost the Democratic nomination in June. The roll-call vote is a purely symbolic gesture on the part of the Democratic Party. Once Clinton’s votes are read out it is expected she will announce her full support for Obama and "release" her superdelegates, allowing them to finally endorse Obama. The Democratic Party is hoping that such a demonstration of party unity will heal the deep rifts which developed over the long, bitter primary season. "It's an olive branch that we think will pay dividends," said one Democratic congressman.

Obama said placing both names into nomination would help to honour her "historic campaign". He said that the roll-call would "help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion".

Hardline Clinton supporters do not see it this way. Lady Boomer, a notorious pro-Clinton blogger and leader of the Puma (Party Unity My Ass) movement, wrote that the roll-call would be a perfect opportunity to once again take the fight to Obama. "Speculation's a-flyin' that Hillary will use the occasion to release her delegates to Obama," she wrote. "It could happen, but naturally we Pumas will do all in our power to keep her ROAR fierce and encourage the delegates, who are being systematically threatened, coerced, and pressured to go over to the O-side, to remain strong and committed to the candidate we elected them to support."

The Puma group also plans to boycott the convention, apparently to help produce dismal television ratings. "Let the DNC know we don't care one iota about their convention, their crowning of an unqualified nominee and their disgraceful, shameful treatment of Hillary Clinton," said the group in an email.

FIRST POSTED AUGUST 18, 2008