Convention Starts Sans Michigan Heavies
The DNC opens in Denver today without the presence of two of Michigan's most-prominent Democratic party leaders.
Governor Jennifer Granholm will miss a lunch in Denver today to honor the nation's 31 Democratic state and territorial governors. She's skipping the opening of the Democratic National Convention to focus on matters in Michigan -- especially requests and motions related to the hearing next week on removing Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Much to the relief of Democrats, Kilpatrick is also a no-show at the convention. He can't travel out of metro Detroit because of bond restrictions related to two felony counts of shoving a police officer. He is also facing eight perjury and conspiracy charges in a separate case.
The mayor had already hinted he would not be going to Denver -- and a statement from his office says Kilpatrick's attention is on running Detroit and not on presidential politics. The Barack Obama campaign has been urging him not to attend the convention and cause a distraction. Kilpatrick is one of three super-delegates representing the National Conference of Democratic Mayors.
-- Rick Pluta from Michigan Public Radio Network
12:02 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink
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