Posted on 01/12/2004 10:05:40 AM PST by chance33_98
DC's First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary to be Held Tuesday, Jan. 13; Delegates, African-American Support at Stake
1/12/04 12:17:00 PM
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To: City and Assignment Desks, Political Reporter
Contact: Sean Tenner, 202-549-6127, Stenner@mrss.com, for DC Democracy Fund
News Advisory:
Democrats in the nation's capital will go to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to cast the first votes of the 2004 presidential campaign. All major candidates on the ballot, including Democratic front-runner Howard Dean, have campaigned in the city and run paid media efforts asking for the votes of District voters on Tuesday and highlighting their support for full voting rights for DC residents. The District will be the only majority-black jurisdiction to hold a presidential primary, and the winner will be able to claim support from this key Democratic constituency.
D.C.'s Shadow Senators Paul Strauss and Florence Pendleton, who are automatic super-delegates to the Democratic National Convention, are pledged to cast their delegate votes for the winner of the primary, making it the first contest to affect the nominating process.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in all of Washington, D.C.'s voting precincts. The following individuals are available for comment and analysis on the primary and its results:
-- Sean Tenner, executive director, DC Democracy Fund (Stenner@mrss.com) -- Chuck Thies, political director, DC Democracy Fund, 202-549-6127 -- Donna Brazile, Al Gore's 2000 campaign manager, political analyst, D.C. resident, 202-628-8081
-- Lawrence Guyot, chairman, 1964 Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, civil rights leader, DC Primary advocate, 202-528-6812
-- Paul Strauss, super-delegate, D.C. shadow senator, 240-375-9882
-- Jack Evans, D.C. councilmember, author of "first-in-the-nation" legislation, 202-724-8058
-- Scott Bolden, D.C. Democratic Party chair, 202-414-9266
-- Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. delegate to Congress, 202-225-8050
DC Democracy Fund, a PAC which backs Federal candidates who support DC voting rights, and other civil rights groups launched the "first in the nation" drive to highlight for the country and its presidential candidates the injustice faced by the 600,000 residents of the nation's capital. D.C. residents pay Federal taxes, serve proudly in the military and perform all the other duties of American citizenship; yet they cannot elect voting members of Congress. Congress can also overturn D.C.'s local laws and budgets on a whim.
D.C. Voting rights supporters will be gathering at Vida restaurant on 1120 20th Street, N.W., beginning at 8 p.m. to watch results. The Dean campaign will be at Lucky Bar on 1221 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
http://www.usnwewswire.com/ -0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 01/12 12:17
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