At Convention, Democrats stake claim to youngest delegations
by Malcom Glenn | UWIRE
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
(U-WIRE)DENVER— There's a fight going on at the Democratic National Convention.
No, not the one between protesters and police. Nor is it the one between supporters of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
It's a fight between representatives from different states, to determine the all-important honor of who has the youngest delegate here at the DNC.
When Texas State Senator and DNC co-chair Leticia Van de Putte boasted an 18-year-old as part of her state's delegation, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who also co-chairs this week's Convention, shot back.
"We have two 18-year-olds as part of the Kansas delegates...one is actually not 18 yet, he will be 18 by the time he votes in November," Sebelius said. "Whenever you can one-up Texas, you try to."
But in fact, someone has them both beat.
"Our youngest delegate is David Gilbert-Pederson, he's 17, and he's from Minnesota," said Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Travis Germond.
"That's a very strong, good number," Germond said, "about the power of change and brining newer and younger voters into our national party."
It's a badge of honor in Democratic circles these days to prove who's doing the most outreach for the youth vote.
Germond excitedly proclaimed that 14.5 percent of participating delegates are younger than the age of 36, a record for any convention of either party.
No, not the one between protesters and police. Nor is it the one between supporters of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
It's a fight between representatives from different states, to determine the all-important honor of who has the youngest delegate here at the DNC.
When Texas State Senator and DNC co-chair Leticia Van de Putte boasted an 18-year-old as part of her state's delegation, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who also co-chairs this week's Convention, shot back.
"We have two 18-year-olds as part of the Kansas delegates...one is actually not 18 yet, he will be 18 by the time he votes in November," Sebelius said. "Whenever you can one-up Texas, you try to."
But in fact, someone has them both beat.
"Our youngest delegate is David Gilbert-Pederson, he's 17, and he's from Minnesota," said Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Travis Germond.
"That's a very strong, good number," Germond said, "about the power of change and brining newer and younger voters into our national party."
It's a badge of honor in Democratic circles these days to prove who's doing the most outreach for the youth vote.
Germond excitedly proclaimed that 14.5 percent of participating delegates are younger than the age of 36, a record for any convention of either party.
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