January 26, 2008

Clinton Wins W&L Mock Convention Nod

In a very close electoral battle that wasn't decided until the New York delegation cast the last vote, Washington and Lee students predicted at their centennial mock convention that Hillary Rodham Clinton would be the Democratic Party's 2008 nominee for president.

Having only missed a prediction once since 1948, this year's preview is especially risky because most political analysts are still hesitant to forecast who will win the fight between Clinton and Barack Obama.

In the end, Clinton received 2,117 votes, with Obama in a close second at 1,642. John Edwards received 288 votes, and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel got 2 delegates thanks to his native Alaska.

Political chairman Wes Little, a senior economics major, said Clinton's eventual triumph was due to her success in delegate-rich states in the Northeast and Southwest, especially California, where she won 260 of the state's 441 votes. Although Obama has strength in the South and Midwest, Little said he agreed with the students' prediction that Clinton would eventually triumph over the Illinois senator, despite his message of hope and optimism.

Shortly after the vote totals were announced, those in attendance were given a special treat -- a phone call from former President Bill Clinton. Praising the convention for its historic role, Clinton thanked his wife's supporters and reiterated her platform that she has the necessary experience to lead the country.

In what has been a less reliable prognostication in the past, convention delegates also put forward former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr., who spoke earlier in the morning, for the office of vice president. Little revealed that Ford was not initially named as a VP nominee, but said that he believed Ford's electrifying speech compelled students to support him. General Chairman Richard Friedman noted that the convention prides itself on bringing in future leaders of the national parties, and said that the VP nod for Ford was confirmation that the students view him as a rising star for Democrats.

Check back on Monday for a complete write-up and photos from the two-day convention.

-Mary Gilbert and Jessica Taylor

Posted at 1:11 PM
Posted to: Barack Obama, Campaigns, Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, WH 2008
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