Blogged by Brad Friedman from Denver…
[Updated at end of article…Including details on Hillary Clinton dramatically saving the day…]
Allow me to stress the unconfirmed nature of this report before I even tell you what I’m hearing. It’s difficult to get information and/or confirm out here on such things, so take it with the grain of salt that it’s currently intended to be served with.
That said, a reliable source on one of the state delegations tells me that today’s nominating speeches have been moved up from 4:30pm to 3:45pm MT. (That much, we’ve now been able to confirm from a couple of different sources.) The reason for the move, so the speculation has it, is that there may be concerns of a floor fight on the way in regard to the roll-call nominations of Clinton and Obama.
I don’t have much more than that, and Clinton’s hopes for her supporters to move their support to Obama during last night’s speech seemed pretty damned clear. So, for now, let’s consider this report a rumor only for the moment (which I don’t usually like reporting without confirm). But if the source is correct, it’s certainly something noteworthy enough to watch out for, along with all of those caveats.
Todd Beeton at MyDD reports on Hillary’s comments, within the last hour or so, at a meeting of her delegates. Some of her noteworthy comments to her delegates, as reported by Beeton, follow…
She’s praising the delegates for the hard work that they did to become delegates.
“This has been a joy. Yes, we didn’t make it but boy did we have a good time trying.” “It is traditional that we have nominations, that we have a roll call. We have candidates that look for ways to work so we come out of here to win in November. I come here today to release you as my delegates.” The place is mostly booing. “Noooooooooo!”
“What that means is that both Senator Obama’s name and mine will be put into nomination this afternoon. I have spoken to many of you who have expressed your questions about what you should do. Many of you feel a responsibility to represent your voters. Others of you want the chance to vote what’s in your heart. Still others will be voting for Senator Obama because they want to demonstrate their commitment to the party and the nomninee. So I am not telling you what to do.”
“I signed my ballot this morning for Senator Obama.”
“What is important to come out of today is that we nominate Senator Barack Obama and Joe Biden for the president and vice president of the United States.”
Any additional info that anyone may have, is certainly welcome in comments. If I can get anymore prior to tonight, I’ll update here appropriately.
UPDATE BY DES: David Dayen over at Calitics is on the floor of the convention hall, and says the roar of approval for Obama’s nomination is deafening. “There will be no fight on this floor,” he predicted.
The Illinois delegation has passed on their vote for the moment, presumably to be the ones to put Obama over the top for the nomination, as his home state.
2nd UPDATE BY DES: Illinois yielded to New York, and now Sen. Hillary Clinton herself is speaking on behalf of the New York delegation, calling for a voice vote, which quickly puts Obama over the top for the nomination. The crowd goes wild…
LATE UPDATE BY BRAD: Hillary Clinton’s appearance on the floor with the NY delegation, calling for the suspension of the roll call vote and nomination of Obama “by acclamation” rippled through the Pepsi Center. Perhaps the first actual piece of “news” I’ve seen out there in three days. I spoke with a Congresswoman from California, on her way out of the arena an hour or so later and she told me, “I’m breathing a sigh of relief…it got pretty dicey there for a bit.”
Brad,
If you listened to Hillary’s speech last night which part made you feel there was some kind of equivocation on her part…relating to who she feels people / delegates should vote for? Do yu think she should round up her delegates and tell them what to do?
Well, I do. She’s trying to have it both ways… putting up a front of party support, but clearly not endorsing Obama. If she were committed to a Democratic victory in November, there is NO question she would tell her delegates what to do.
If the Clintons try to steal this thing it’ll cause a major rift in the Democratic party, and McCain will be the major beneficiary.
I’ll bet I know where that rumor came from…the RNC.
But it was a nice setup for this….
That was great 99.
I felt so happy for the blacks that were there to see the tears of joy, pride and hope in their eyes and to see them finally get what should have been done a long time ago.
I’m afraid it will be stolen again tho. 🙁
See, I’m not so sure they will try to steal it this time. The guys who decide who’s going to be the president have little reason to give it to McCain… unless… I guess… they are set on Hillary. Obama and Biden have given them every reason to think they can keep doing what they do without any flak from the White House. The failures of the * administration have put them on a bad footing. Russia and China are ascendent and this preà«mption thing, this lone super power thing, is dead. We have to be seen as good and righteous and competent again. We have to get back the support of the world. They hate McCain and they love Obama. The big boyz are more likely to go with the Mr. Popularity. Despite all these bogus polls that purport to show McCain’s strength, his support is puny, and Obama’s is mighty… worldwide. He isn’t going to give them a lick of trouble. I don’t think they’ll let Rove do his thing.
I know what you mean, though. I’m disgusted with the Democrats, with Obama, and the convention is sickening… but I can’t help getting all weepy in parts because I can hear Martin in my head. I don’t think Martin would be happy with Obama as a candidate, but this IS his dream. That just slaughters me every time I turn around, makes me feel desperate for him to come back… or some way to beam this news into the past.
I’m probably going to be a total wreck tonight.
sometimes i really dont get peops,i know obama isnt perfect but guess what…no one is
in illinois before we sent him to the us senate he talked about the change we needed which is open,honest govt…..he told us to get that we had to get the big money out of these descions then he got the most sweeping ethics legislation passed EVER in illinois
he also worked on and passed legislation that covered every child in illinois for healthcare(until the bush admin SUED illinois for helping too many families)
he also helped pass a state income tax cut for middle class families in illinois
then we sent him to the us senate whr he passed the best reform since watergate,limiting indviduals to donations of 2300 bucks,
worked and got passed legislation that buys up loose nuclear material so it doesnt get into bad hands
worked and got passed legislation that made it so injured soldiers didnt have to pay for their meals and phone calls at the va…..
he is no war monger,he wants to talk about problems way before they escalate
i think we have a clear choice here between “ur on ur own repbs” and the dems ,who dont understand why warren buffets secretary pays more taxes than warren
I guess I am the only one who noticed that they DIDN’T COUNT THE VOTES. Way to go Pelosi you filthy stinking republican mole. You just showed this country that the ONE THING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOESN’T STAND FOR is counting the votes. Obama doesn’t have a chance against McCain. If the DEMOCRATIC PARTY doesn’t think counting the votes matters, then this election is history. The DEMOCRATIC PARTY didnt’ select Obama as the Democratic candidate for president, the REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED MEDIA selected Obama as the democratic candidate for president. VOTERS DON’T COUNT, only the PROJECTION OF THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED MEDIA MATTERS. 2008 is just going to be another 2000/2004.
^^^More Republican talking points to try and stir up dissent ^^^
It’s over and done, no brownie points for you 😉
Obama is a good man … as good as we may ever see to be a contender!
And no it’s not in the bag the man is not going to just give it to him.
It’s going to be a tough fight … There is still a lot of stupid people out there that vote, rigged voting machines and tabulators, caging etc. not to mension the TRILLIONS of dollars ridding on this race.
BTW ~ if ya hadn’t noticed … Shit Walks ~ Money Talks !
Obama needs all the support he can get to win.