SEVEN DAYS | may 21-28, 2008 | fair game 17A
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Democrats wrested control of the state legislature and the governor’s office, as well as its two congressional districts. This year, incumbent Sen. John Sununu faces a tough re-election bid. Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is his Democratic opponent, and she has a solid lead in early polling. The Race for Denver — At this weekend’s Democratic State Convention in Barre, a group of nearly 400 delegates will pick 10 people, and three alternates, to represent Vermont at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Of those, four will be pledged to Sen. Hillary Clinton, six to Sen. Barack Obama. The split is based on Vermont’s March presidential primary results. Along with these 10, another 13 Vermonters will be seated at the national convention; seven of them are the so-called “superdelegates” we’ve heard so much about in recent weeks. Six more — and one alternate
Democrats will send an equal number of male and female delegates to the convention. Of the six Obama slots, only three will go to men. Two alternates will be picked, one of each gender. More than 100 people are in contention. Clinton supporters will get two slots per gender, and the one alternate will be a woman, according to party officials. About 50 people are competing for these slots. Vermont’s superdelegates are: national committeewoman Billi Gosh, national committeeman Chuck Ross, Party Chair Ian Carleton, Party Vice Chair Judy Bevans, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Rep. Peter Welch and former Gov. Howard Dean. Of these delegates, Gosh is the only one committed to Clinton. Dean is abstaining since he is the current DNC chairman. Gosh will have more influence at the convention if she is reelected to the influential DNC Credentials Committee. This group “credentials” delegates to
Douglas purports the stimulus package is worth $200 million. Dems argue it’s closer to $50 million. — will be picked on June 7 by the 10 delegates who win in Barre on Saturday. Competition for these coveted slots has been heavy, and one of the highest-profile contenders is Philip Baruth. The blogger (“Vermont Daily Briefing”), University of Vermont professor and novelist is an avowed Barack Obama supporter who bought his way into a fundraiser in 2007 and wrote about it on his blog. “I was on the bandwagon for Obama before there was a band. Or a wagon,” Baruth explained in an email. “I was a founding member of Vermonters for Obama in November of 2006, months before he declared. And in a year where Hillary Clinton has made it clear that flipping pledged delegates is a key part of her ongoing strategy, I think loyalty to and longevity with the candidate are at a premium.” Founding-fan status may not be enough for Baruth. Politicos such as Sen. Peter Shumlin and Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan are also seeking the coveted seats. Why? Regardless of who wins the nomination — the first African-American candidate or the first female candidate — the convention will be historic. To reach Shay Totten, email shay@sevendaysvt.com.
be seated, and there has been much ado about whether some, or none, of the delegates from Michigan and Florida should be allowed to vote at the convention. Both states broke party rules by holding their primaries earlier than they were supposed to. A special DNC rule-making committee could decide on May 31 whether to seat those delegates, and the credentials committee would then be charged with upholding that decision. If for some reason Clinton has not bowed out by convention time, she would be the big winner of delegates from those states. Obama was not on the ballot in Michigan, and he did not campaign in Florida. For her part, Gosh will remain loyal to her candidate until the end. She won’t be the Clinton superdelegate who switches to Obama and ends up on “Larry King Live.” “I take my signal from Hillary Clinton and, although I’m free to do whatever I want, I am very loyal and I have seen loyalty dissolve all around me,” said Gosh, who sits in on weekly phone calls with the Clinton campaign. “I talked to her [recently] and thanked her for sticking in there, and commended her on what a wonderful role model for women and girls she is providing — that when the going gets tough, to keep on going,” said Gosh.
No matter who wins in the Democratic primary, Gosh will support the party’s nominee. The Doctor Is Out — Singlepayer health-care advocate and physician Deb Richter will not be a candidate for lieutenant Where the governor after all. This also means my predecessor Peter Frames Are! Freyne will remain idle. The rumors were true: Freyne was considering a role in the good doctor’s campaign. So, who will challenge Dubie? Pollina supporters dismiss all rumors that their candidate 168 battery street, burlington • 651.0880 might slide over to run for the number-two spot, leaving Douglas and Symington to 2x4-eyes032608.indd 1 3/24/08 5:03:46 PM duke it out for number one. Meanwhile Sen. Jim Condos of Chittenden County, once considered a top pick, is not running for LG. Nor, according to party sources, is Sen. John Campbell, the senate majority leader. The likely Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor may not even be a legislator. Imagine that. The Stimulator? — Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is known as Vqdpnjoh!Xpsltipqt!! The Terminator from his film Visit Arcana in Jericho Center “star” days. Could Gov. I-89 exit 11 ĺ VT 117 (River Road) west 2.5 mi ĺ Right on Barber Douglas get his own rep as Farm Rd 1 mi ĺ Left on Schillhammer Rd 1000 ft to entrance on right. The Stimulator? Spring Hours: 9-6 weekdays, 8-6 Saturday, 10-6 Sunday for information call 899-5123 or visit us at www.arcana.ws You’d think so by listening to the old-guard business leaders at the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Headed by former Douglas administra- 2x4-Arcana052108.indd 1 tion official Tom Torti, the group held a presser on Monday to praise Douglas in person for the economic stimulus package he squeaked through at the end of the legislative session. Douglas purports the package is worth $200 million. Dems argue it’s closer to $50 million, and that the package was largely composed of items they had already introduced and were prepared to pass. Asked whether any Dems had been invited to share credit with Douglas, chamber officials looked at each other awkwardly until the governor piped up, singling out Burlington Rep. Mark 2x3-doggieDaycare052108.indd 1 Larson. Larson chaired a key panel at session’s end that came up with a compromise economic package everyone could support. Larson is considered a strong favorite to replace Symington at the speaker’s podium come January. He does face competition, though, from Rep. Shap www.nothingbutnoodles.com Smith of Morrisville and Rep. Floyd Nease of Johnson. Only Channel 17, Nancy Remsen of The Burlington Free Press and Seven Days witnessed the event. No Vermont Public Fresh global noodle and pasta Radio, no WPTZ, and — the dishes, gourmet hand-tossed big shocker — no WCAX. salads, pan-seared soups Wow, WCAX missed a feeland amazing desserts! good event with business lead150 Dorset St. The Blue Mall South Burlington, VT 05403 ers and the governor! TEL: 802.318.4855 FAX: 802.318.4862 Someone pinch me. � Open Daily From: 11:00am - 9:00pm
5/19/08 1:59:19 PM
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