Roll Call Confusion Frustrates Clinton Delegates
August 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Clinton delegates from Texas were none too pleased this morning. They expressed frustration after they were informed at the delegation breakfast by state Chair Boyd Richie that they would have to cast their votes on paper ballots before tonight’s anticipated roll call.
Richie said he was notified at around 9 pm last night that the DNC was requesting delegates vote early so they would be ready when it came time to vote from the floor. A Clinton supporter, ever suspicious, stood up at the breakfast and demanded that an observer oversee the ballots. Richie retorted that every ballot would be signed by the delegates themselves and copies would be made for everyone to review, adding, “we’re not relying on electronic voting machines here, folks.”
Nevertheless, an agreement was reached so that the Clinton delegates would have an observer in an effort to stymie any sort of conspiracy theories or resentments. (Let’s hear it for party trust and unity.) Ron Kirk, the former Dallas mayor, declined the option to have a poll watcher on behalf of the Obama delegates.
The level of frustration within the Texas delegation may be partly due to the many first-time delegates who are unfamiliar with the process.
Adding to the Texas delegation’s troubles, state Sen. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) had to be hospitalized Tuesday night in Denver for a bacterial skin infection. Gallegos, a Clinton delegate, underwent a liver transplant in 2007 that nearly prevented him from casting the key vote needed to stop a Voter ID bill.
Richie, after leaving the delegation breakfast, took a ballot to the hospital for Gallegos to sign. Gallegos is being treated with antibiotics and is expected to be released Thursday morning.
