Blue to help Dems rethink process

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:25:16 -0400

Former House Speaker Dan Blue of Raleigh has been named to a 37-member commission that will examine the Democratic Party's rules for the 2012 presidential nominating and delegate selection process.

Blue, a state lawmaker and attorney, was appointed to the commission by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the national Democratic party chairman, Rob Christensen reports.

Kaine wants the commission to examine three issues: changing the window of time during which primaries and caucuses can be held, reducing the number of super delegates, and improving the caucus system.

The Democrats last year survived a prolonged primary fight between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The long competition resulted in an intense courtship for the support of the super delegates — the elected and party leaders — who potentially could have decided a close contest at the national convention.

The co-chairs of the Democratic Change Commission are South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.

North Carolina has played an important role in the past in helping shape the presidential primary system. In the early 1980s, Gov. Jim Hunt headed a commission that created the super delegates. The chief staff person on the committee was Congressman David Price.

Price also co-chaired the Democrats' 2008 presidential nominating commission. Raleigh attorney Ed Turlington served on the commission.