A Mini-Convention?

Democrats, looking for a way out, are pondering a new idea: an unprecedented “mini convention” to bring their punishing presidential season to an early close.

The proposal surfaced during another week of pushing and shoving between the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns and a growing concern that the party may be hurting itself beyond repair.

Without some resolution, they fret, Republican John McCain will win the presidency.

“If we continue down the path we are on, we might as well hand the keys of the White House to John McCain,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.

The mini-convention would bring together nearly 800 superdelegates after the last primaries are held in early June.

Given the current math, superdelegates – party officials and elected leaders – will decide the nomination, one way or another.

“There would be a final opportunity for the candidates to make their arguments to these delegates, and then one transparent vote,” Tennessee Gov. Philip Bredesen suggested in the New York Times.

Superdelegates, both pledged and unpledged, reacted cautiously to the idea. But they all agreed that something needed to be done to bridge the growing gap between Clinton and Obama supporters.

“We’ve got to stop the bickering that’s going on,” said Leila Medley of Jefferson City, Mo., an uncommitted superdelegate. “There’s no doubt about that.”

“While you trade barbs, McCain is uniting the Republican Party,” U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon wrote both campaigns in mid-March. “In the next six weeks, McCain can sit back, amass his war chest, concentrate his base and delight as you deconstruct each other.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <AZ Central>

I have often said that great minds fall in the same ditch. I have no doubt that Politics Plus is not the source of this idea, but it is interesting to note that our poll, currently in its fifth day, is on this exact subject. Pardon my pun, but I’ll let the cat out of the bag and admit that I voted ‘Yes’.

Cross-posted from Politics Plus