North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Blog

Mathern Says Hoeven Needs to Clear the air

2008-04-16T15:09:00.001-05:00

BISMARCK - At a news conference today, Senator Tim Mathern said North Dakotans should know his future political plans and those of Governor John Hoeven to clear the air before the upcoming election.

"Since I began my campaign for Governor, people have been asking me if Governor Hoeven wants to be in office for 12 or more years, or if he wins will he resign and run for Senate or Congress in two years. I think these are legitimate questions for the highest state office in North Dakota."

Mathern said the governor needs to make whatever decision he wants and let the citizens know what it is quickly.

"This is just a matter of clearing the air, so voters know what they are voting for. There have been other recent statewide office changes following a resignation. (Fong and Hamm) It makes sense that people now have this question in their minds. Is this a vote for John Hoeven for 12 plus years or a vote for Jack Dalrymple while Hoeven campaigns for another office?"

Mathern said for his part, "I pledge to run for no more than two terms as governor. I think eight years is enough for one administration to get the job done or to move on to encourage other leadership in our state."

Senator Mathern noted the governor's post is held by one full-time person who is the chief executive officer with dramatic impact on the state. Comparatively, a legislative change where a legislator is one of many legislators has less consequences.

Editorial by Sen. Tim Mathern

2008-04-16T09:45:00.002-05:00

Via The Forum's Web site...

Tim Mathern, Fargo, Letter: No one should die for lack of insurance
The Forum

We all know that people who do not have health insurance live in fear. They may have to go into debt to pay for health care or forgo medical care altogether.

But, what many people don’t realize is that a lack of health insurance can also result in premature death.

A new report by Families USA found that between 2000 and 2006, 200 people in North Dakota between the ages of 25 and 64 died prematurely because of a lack of health insurance.

Does that seem hard to believe? Think about it. People without health insurance are more likely to receive too little medical care and receive it too late. They can become sicker due to lack of care, and some die sooner as a result.

Read on...

Geoff Greenwood's News from Headquarters

2008-04-15T09:53:00.002-05:00

I have had the pleasure to meet many of you and work with a few of you as well, but for those of you who don't know who I am, I will be working as your new Field Director.

I worked as a Coordinated Campaign Field Staffer in Grand Forks over the 2006 general elections and was given the opportunity to work with our hard-working Representatives during the 2007 Legislative Session as Staff Assistant to House Minority Leader Merle Boucher.

After those great experiences, I am truly excited to now be a member of the Dem-NPL staff!

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about an exciting grassroots organizing campaign that is being implemented in North Dakota and all over the country by the DNC with the help of state parties and individual Democrats like yourself. It is called the Neighborhood Volunteer Program and is aimed at getting people involved and contacting voters in neighborhoods throughout North Dakota to spread the Democratic message and to elect Democrats this coming November.

The program is a great and easy way to get involved to help our amazing slate of Dem-NPL statewide and legislative candidates win elections. What it does is ask that volunteers contact 25 voters in their neighborhood 3 times between now and the elections either through phone calls, door-to-door canvassing, or mailings that will be set up as "Voter Contact Events."

Following one of the best and most historic State Conventions to date and now with a full slate of Democratic Candidates for the first time in 25 years, it is certainly an exciting time to be a Democrat! We have an excellent chance to win a majority in the Senate, win a slew of legislative races all over the state, take back statewide offices, and send Congressman Pomeroy back to Washington, D.C., to represent us.

With YOUR HELP we can jump into the campaign season organized and ready to win elections all over the state.

If you are interested in becoming a Neighborhood Volunteer or would just like to know more about the program, please contact me by e-mail (greenwoodg@dnc.org) or call me at the Kennedy Center at 701-255-0460.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you all as we work throughout the campaign season and into November.

Geoff Greenwood, Field Director

The Forum Praises Sen. Dorgan

2008-04-14T09:56:00.002-05:00

Via The Forum's Web site...

Forum Editorial
The Forum

PRAIRIE ROSES: To Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and other state and federal officials who pushed for a comprehensive scientific assessment of the oil reserve potential of the Bakken Formation in North Dakota and Montana. The study by the U.S. Geological Survey was released last week, and its findings are amazing. It looks like the formation holds an estimated 3.65 billion barrels of oil, 1.85 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 148 million barrels of natural gas liquids. It’s nothing short of a world-class reserve of energy, right under North Dakota. New exploration and recovery technologies make tapping the formation economically viable. While there is plenty of drilling and pumping activity under way in parts of the Bakken, last week’s news could spur much more. And because the reserves are so large, oil and natural gas activity could be sustained for many years. It’s good news for North Dakota and good news for the nation’s energy security.

Quick link...

Dem-NPL Announces Full Slate of Candidates

2008-04-11T16:29:00.000-05:00

BISMARCK – The Democratic-NPL Party has announced that it has filled all candidate seats for the upcoming campaign season.

“This shows tremendous strength,” said party executive director Jamie Selzler. “We’ve been working tirelessly to recruit the best candidates possible to take back the state Capitol. Today, I’m happy to announce that every candidate seat has been filled.”

All even-numbered legislative districts are up for election this year. North Dakota has 47 districts. There is one senator and two representatives from each district.

At the party’s state convention last weekend, delegates endorsed Rep. Earl Pomeroy for U.S. House of Representatives, Sen. Tim Mathern for governor, Rep. Merle Boucher for lieutenant governor, Rep. Jasper Schneider for insurance commissioner, Cheryl Bergian for public service commissioner, Mitch Vance for treasurer and Daryl Splichal for auditor.

Last weekend’s endorsements fulfilled all federal and statewide candidate seats.

The filing deadline for the June Primary Election was today.

Sen. Clinton's Speech in N.D.

2008-04-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

Sen. Obama's Speech in N.D.

2008-04-09T13:05:00.000-05:00

Letter to the Editor by GF Mayor

2008-04-09T09:31:00.002-05:00

Via the GF Herald's Web site...

IN THE MAIL: GF mayor: Congrats for a job well done
Grand Forks Herald
Michael Brown

GRAND FORKS — Thank you, Grand Forks Herald, for the on-target editorial about how well the historic events of this week have been and continue to be handled (“Well-run event got the Dems’ job done,” Page A4, April 5).

The “driving” analogy perfectly described the hard work that allowed the events to unfold without distraction to the passengers (event attendees). The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party and its executive director, Jamie Selzler, deserve a huge congratulations and thank you from the community for a convention and an amazing experience we will not forget.

North Dakota Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy were instrumental in making the critical pieces fit together and again proving what they bring, literally, to our region and state.

Read on...

Photos of the Democratic Presidential Candidates in GF

2008-04-08T10:12:00.003-05:00

Dem-NPL Delegates Overwhelmingly Endorse Daryl Splichal for State Auditor

2008-04-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

GRAND FORKS - Delegates at the 2008 Democratic-NPL State Convention today overwhelmingly endorsed Daryl Splichal for state auditor.

“I have a strong background in auditing, and I look forward to putting those skills to work for the state of North Dakota,” Splichal said. “I will push to ensure we have the needed resources for the auditor’s office. I will also be a strong leader and supporter of the staff at the agency.”

Splichal has 23 years of internal auditing experience.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson State University and a master’s of business administration from North Dakota State University. He’s also attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Splichal was raised in Dickinson and now resides in Mandan. He is married to wife Mary and has two children.

The Democratic-NPL State Convention will end at 12:30 p.m. today.

Dem-NPL Delegates Endorse Pomeroy, Mathern, Boucher, Bergian and Vance

2008-04-05T20:12:00.001-05:00

GRAND FORKS - Delegates at the 2008 Democratic-NPL State Convention today endorsed Congressman Earl Pomeroy for re-election, Sen. Tim Mathern for Governor, Rep. Merle Boucher for Lieutenant Governor, Cheryl Bergian for Public Service Commission and Mitch Vance for state Treasurer. Over 1,000 delegates were in attendance.

Rep. Pomeroy has served North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1992. He is seeking his ninth term as the at large representative in the U.S. House.

Pomeroy's leadership and hard work earned him a spot on the powerful Ways and Means Committee in the 109th Congress, a position he still holds today. His bipartisan and objective analysis of issues has been valuable to this committee, which is charged with key policy decisions on tax, trade, Social Security and Medicare.

Another of Pomeroy's primary legislative priorities for families is helping more middle-income Americans save for retirement. He has authored legislation giving tax credits to people who set aside money for retirement, legislation to help small businesses set up pension programs for their employees, and tax incentives to families paying for higher education.

Pomeroy's expertise on Social Security and related issues is an important asset on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and also to the House Democratic Social Security Task Force, where he serves as co-chair.

Sen. Tim Mathern has been serving the people of North Dakota in the state Senate since 1986. He is seeking statewide office for the first time.

Mathern's leadership and hard work earned him a spot on the powerful Appropriations committee, beginning in 2003, where he still serves today. His relationships with people across the state began when he worked for Catholic Family Service in the early seventies, starting as a caseworker, rising to executive director.

During his legislative career, Mathern has led the effort for families and businesses to gain affordable quality health care. He has worked on legislation to increase funding at the state level for education, to relieve the pressure on local property taxes.

Mathern's education includes degrees from North Dakota State University and Harvard University. He works at Prairie St. John's psychiatric, an addictions treatment hospital in Fargo.

Rep. Merle Boucher has served legislative District 9 in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 1991. He currently is the House Democratic-NPL leader. He also is a cattleman, former high school teacher and a family man.

In his political career, Boucher has been a strong advocate for affordable healthcare, agriculture, education, Native American issues and labor.

Boucher has a bachelor’s degree from Mayville State University and an associate’s degree from NDSU-Bottineau.

Boucher resides in Rolette with his wife Susan. He has four children.

Cheryl Bergian is an attorney with twenty years of experience advocating for people in North Dakota. She is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and has worked for legal service programs in North Dakota. Cheryl lives in Fargo, with her husband, Jacques Boucher and stepdaughter Lori Boucher.

Mitch Vance is a 64-year-old former businessman, educator, magazine editor/writer and political activist. He resides in Bismarck with his wife Tonja.

The Democratic-NPL State Convention will go until 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Update No. 2 Regarding Friday’s Events in Grand Forks

2008-04-03T09:17:00.002-05:00

Well, both Jamie and I are here in Grand Forks wrapping up the details for Friday's big events. The Alerus Center is a huge facility, so we're both very busy. All the presidential candidate advance teams are in place helping us with these historic events.

Today, I thought I'd fill you in with a few details:

-Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech has been moved up to 7:30 p.m.

-WDAY and WDAZ TV will be airing both of Friday's presidential candidate speeches live. They will be going live at 10 p.m. with multiple stories.

-Valley News Live will be airing live coverage during the 6 p.m. newscast and cut-ins of both speeches. They will be airing multiple stories on their 10 p.m. newscast. Entire speeches will be posted on their Web site ASAP.

-KFYR TV will be airing live coverage during the 6 p.m. newscast and cut-ins of both speeches. They will be airing multiple stories on their 10 p.m. newscast.

-KXMB TV will be airing stories on their 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

-KFGO, KNOX and Prairie Public Radio will be airing extensive live coverage of the speeches.

-The Forum is planning on doing some live blogging from the Alerus Center.

-The NorthDecoder blog is planning on streaming both speeches live.

Stay tuned! These speeches are very historic. There may be other media outlets that are going to have extensive live coverage.

-Rick Gion, Communications Director

Update Regarding Friday’s Events in Grand Forks

2008-04-01T13:31:00.002-05:00

GRAND FORKS – The Alerus Center will now be opening the doors for Friday’s presidential candidate speeches at 1 p.m. Initially, gates were going to open at 3:30 p.m.

Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at 5:30 p.m. and Sen. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m.

Tickets for Friday’s events are still available online by clicking here.

For those without Internet access, the Democratic-NPL Party has announced four locations around North Dakota to pick up physical tickets to the upcoming events.
Here are the locations:

Bismarck: Kennedy Memorial Center, 1902 E. Divide Ave.

Fargo: Cass County Democratic-NPL Headquarters, 1137 19th Ave. N.

Grand Forks: Alerus Center Main Entrance

Minot: Cenex Convenience Store, 205 20th Ave. S.E.

Tickets will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 and from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at all locations.

More information about the 2008 Democratic-NPL State Convention can be found online by going to www.demnpl.com.

Ticket Locations Announced for Upcoming Presidential Candidate Speeches

2008-03-31T18:01:00.001-05:00

BISMARCK – The Democratic-NPL Party has announced four locations around North Dakota to pick up physical tickets to the upcoming presidential candidate speeches happening Friday at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

Here are the locations:

Bismarck: Kennedy Memorial Center, 1902 E. Divide Ave.

Fargo: Cass County Democratic-NPL Headquarters, 1137 19th Ave. N.

Grand Forks: Alerus Center Main Entrance

Minot: Cenex Convenience Store, 205 20th Ave. S.E.

Tickets will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 and from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at all locations.

Interested people without Internet access are encouraged to pick up tickets at the locations.

If event goers already received tickets online, they do not need to pick up physical tickets.

Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at 5:30 p.m. and Sen. Hillary Clinton is tentatively scheduled to speak at 8 p.m on Friday, April 4.

Tickets Available Online for Presidential Candidate Speeches

2008-03-31T14:30:00.003-05:00

Click here to sign up for tickets to the upcoming events with Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Grand Forks.

Some physical ticket locations are still being finalized. We'll update you as soon as that information is available. Tickets are free of charge and are general admission.

As a reminder, Sen. Obama will be speaking at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Sen. Clinton will be tentatively speaking at 8 p.m. in the same place.

Attendees should enter the Alerus Center arena's southeast entrance number one and southwest entrance number two. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. You should allow some time to clear security. Also, it is requested the audience be seated 20 minutes prior to the speech.

Click here if you are interested in attending a reception with Sen. Obama earlier that day.

Sen. Obama's speech will be the keynote address for the upcoming 2008 Democratic-NPL Convention.

Click here for more information about the convention. See you there!

Hillary Clinton to Speak at Dem-NPL Convention

2008-03-31T13:57:00.000-05:00

BISMARCK – The Democratic-NPL Party has announced that Sen. Hillary Clinton will be tentatively speaking at 8 p.m. Friday, April 4 as a part of the party’s state convention.

“We are very excited about Sen. Clinton’s visit to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks,” said Jamie Selzler, Democratic-NPL executive director. “Having two Democratic presidential candidates attend our state convention is historic.”

Tickets for Sen. Barack Obama’s speech at 5:30 p.m. can be used to attend the Clinton event.

The Democratic-NPL Party’s convention starts Friday and ends Sunday afternoon.

News from Headquarters

2008-03-31T09:41:00.002-05:00

Five days and counting until the start of our 2008 State Convention in Grand Forks! The excitement all over our state is building greatly, and I suspect that we're going to see one of the most exciting conventions in the history of our Party. We're close to filling up our delegate and alternate slate, but there may be openings in your District. Please click here to find your District and here to contact your District Chair.

As you know, Senator Barack Obama will be our keynote speaker on Friday. As a delegate or alternate to the convention, you are guaranteed a floor seat for the speech, and do not need a separate ticket. If you would like to attend a reception with Senator Obama, being held before the speech, we're providing an opportunity to do so. Tickets are $100 each, with all funds raised going to the State Party.

We will keep you up to date on the latest convention news, and I look forward to seeing you at the end of this week!

Jamie Selzler, Executive Director
North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

Tickets Available Online for Obama Event

2008-03-27T21:01:00.003-05:00

Here's the big news everyone has been waiting for:

Click here to sign up for tickets to the upcoming event with Sen. Barack Obama in Grand Forks. After signing up, a ticket will be sent to you via email.

For those without Internet access, physical ticket locations are still being finalized. We'll update you as soon as that information is available.

Tickets are free of charge and are general admission.

As a reminder, Sen. Obama will be speaking at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

Attendees should enter the Alerus Center arena's southeast entrance number one and southwest entrance number two. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. You should allow some time to clear security. Also, it is requested the audience be seated 20 minutes prior to the speech.

Click here if you are interested in attending a reception with Sen. Obama earlier that day.

Sen. Obama's speech will be the keynote address for the upcoming 2008 Democratic-NPL Convention. Click here for more information about the convention.

See you there!

-Rick Gion, Communications Director

News from Headquarters

2008-03-27T10:10:00.002-05:00

There's a lot of excitement in the air about the upcoming events in Grand Forks with Sen. Barack Obama! We're receiving tons of phone calls and emails here at Democratic-NPL Headquarters.

As a reminder, Sen. Obama's 5:30 p.m. speech on April 4 in the Alerus Center arena will be free of charge. Tickets will be available very soon. We'll be posting those details just as soon as they are finalized. The ticket process will be posted on our Web site, www.demnpl.com. Stay tuned!

The party has also scheduled a special reception with Sen. Obama earlier that day at 4:30 p.m. in the Alerus Center's Ballroom. The cost is $100 per person to RSVP. You can click here to pay online. You can also call headquarters (701) 255-0460. After paying, the party will add you to an admittance list.

-Rick Gion, Communications Director

News from Headquarters

2008-03-26T09:41:00.002-05:00

As you would expect, the interest in our State Convention increases by the day! We continue to receive a large number of calls and e-mail messages from people all over the region. Senator Obama's keynote address will be incredibly well-attended, and that means good things for our Party, our candidates and North Dakota.

We still expect to announce a general public ticketing process this week. Please keep an eye on our website for news. We've committed that the tickets for the general public will be free, and we'll do everything we can to allow everyone who wants to go the chance to do so. The best way to get guaranteed floor seating is as a delegate or alternate to the convention. There are still some slots available in many districts. You can check out our convention information page here.

We're also happy to announce that Senator Obama will be appearing at a State Party fundraiser prior to his speech. Tickets for this event are $100 each, and can be purchased through our information page found here. This event, being held in the Ballroom of the Alerus Center starting at 4:30 pm on Friday, April 4th, will feature a short speech from Senator Obama for those in attendance.

We hope to see you at the Convention, and we'll continue to update you on a regular basis regarding Convention plans!

Jamie Selzler, Executive Director
North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

News from Headquarters

2008-03-25T09:39:00.001-05:00

The last 6 days have certainly been interesting in North Dakota politics! The announcement of Senator Barack Obama as our State Convention keynote speaker is causing a huge amount of interest in our Convention and our Party. We at the Kennedy Center have received hundreds of phone calls and e-mail messages, and I know our District Chairs and Legislators have received even more.

We still expect to announce a ticketing process this week. Keep in mind that our delegates and alternates get guaranteed tickets to the Obama speech, and will receive floor seating. If you aren't yet a delegate or alternate and are interested in becoming one, you can check out the info on our website here.

I'm also happy to announce that we'll have some great entertainment at our convention banquet as well. The banquet, being held at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 6th, will feature a speech from former Attorney General and candidate for Governor Heidi Heitkamp. Heidi is an incredibly inspirational speaker, and she'll help make for a great night and Convention. Job Christianson and Friends will be performing a cabaret- themed show for us, as well. Job, originally from Grand Forks, has performed in numerous Broadway plays and musicals, and you won't want to miss this great performance. If you haven't purchased a ticket to the banquet yet, you may do so by contacting headquarters at 701-255-0460 or people@demnpl.com. Tickets are each $30 now, but will increase to $40 if purchased after March 28th, including those sold at registration or at the door.

We'll continue to update you on Convention activities throughout the next 10 days. I hope that you'll be able to attend this historic event in our Party!

Jamie Selzler, Executive Director
North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

More bad news for Republicans

2008-03-24T13:52:00.003-05:00

Via the Politico's Web site...

GOP state parties are in dire straits
By DAVID PAUL KUHN & CHARLES MAHTESIAN
Politico

At a time when the GOP presidential nominee will need more assistance than ever, a number of state Republican parties are struggling through troubled times, suffering from internal strife, poor fundraising, onerous debt, scandal or voting trends that are conspiring to relegate the local branches of the party to near-irrelevance.

In some of the largest, smallest, reddest and bluest states in the nation, many state Republican organizations are still reeling in the aftermath of the devastating 2006 election cycle, raising questions about how much grassroots help the state parties will be able to deliver to presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

The state party woes are especially ill-timed since McCain will face a Democratic nominee who may be considerably better funded and organized, and since Republicans will be facing an energized Democratic party that is shattering primary election turnout records.

Read on...

Small Support for Sand?

2008-03-24T09:36:00.002-05:00

Via The Forum's Web site...

Political notebook
Janell Cole and Don Davis, Forum Communications Co.

Campaign kick-off

Usually when one walks into the North Dakota Republican headquarters in Bismarck for a candidate's campaign kick-off announcement, it's hard to get past the front door.

The building is always packed with throngs of GOP legislators, elected state officials and their deputies and various party pooh-bahs and activists.

They were missing Thursday afternoon when Duane Sand announced that he'll run against U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy for the second time in four years. The few who were there included Sand's wife, Holly, and two children; three young men working for his campaign; another who works for Sand's employer, Americans for Prosperity, and a few Republican women who work at the GOP office most days.

Read on...

News from Headquarters

2008-03-21T09:48:00.001-05:00

Today I thought I'd share with you some of the comments from the press release officially announcing Sen. Barack Obama as the 2008 Democratic-NPL State Convention keynote speaker.

The comments are from our congressional delegation:

"Senator Obama is a person of rare quality, and his message of can-do optimism and hope is one that I believe resonates in North Dakota. He shares our Midwestern values, and he can unite this country," said Senator Conrad. "Senator Obama has shown that he has what it takes to win in states like North Dakota, Minnesota and Wyoming. He's drawn more people to the democratic process, and that can only be good for the country."

Senator Dorgan said: "Senator Obama has an extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate people throughout the country, and it is wonderful that he is planning to attend North Dakota's state Democratic Convention. Like many other states, North Dakota has responded to Senator Obama's message of hope and optimism by giving him an impressive 62 percent of the vote in our caucus this year. His presence shows that he intends to compete nation-wide for the Presidency, which is good for the country, democracy, and North Dakota."

"North Dakota Democrats showed their strong support for Senator Obama on February 5th, and I'm thrilled to have the potential Democratic presidential nominee as the keynote speaker at our convention," Congressman Pomeroy said. "Senator Obama has a powerful message of hope and change that resonates across party lines and across the country. I look forward to hearing him deliver that message to North Dakota Democrats at our convention in April."

Our delegation members aren't the only folks excited about the Obama visit to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on April 4. We've received many calls and emails here at headquarters regarding tickets for the event. For your information, details of this event are still being worked on. We'll keep you posted on further developments. As soon as we finalize these details, they will be posted on our Web site: www.demnpl.com. Be sure to check there early next week. You can find much information about the convention by clicking here.

See you there!

-Rick Gion, Communications Director

Jamie Selzler's News from Headquarters

2008-03-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

Fellow Democrats,

Great news! As you've likely heard by now, Senator Barack Obama has agreed to be the keynote speaker for our state Democratic-NPL Convention, being held in Grand Forks on April 4-6. A big "thank you" goes to Senator Kent Conrad, who as the first Senator outside of Illinois to endorse Obama, was able to extend the invitation and highlight the value of visiting fellow Democrats in North Dakota. Senator Obama will be speaking at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4th.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be releasing information about how you can attend this great event. The best way to attend, and the only way to get up-front floor seating, is as a Delegate or Alternate from your District. Keep an eye on our website later this afternoon for a list of those Districts (and contact information for their Chair) where there are still spots. While attending the Convention, we invite you to join us for our banquet on Saturday night. For those 30 years old or younger, you are welcome to participate in the "Democratic Leadership Institute", which is a convention-within-a-convention designed specifically for young people. We'll have details on our website for everything this afternoon.

For those who would like to attend Senator Obama's speech as a spectator, we'll announce a process next week to do that. Keep an eye on our website, and we'll also announce it to the media, and via this column, as well.

Have a great day,

Jamie Selzler, Executive Director