Projo Politics Blog

At Sunday's Democratic state convention, party leaders rounded out the delegation that will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. The convention, of course, chooses the party's presidential candidate.

As has been the case for many years, the Democrats balance their delegates based on gender to ensure that an equal number of men and women make up the state's delegation.

While Hillary Clinton captured a majority of the state's delegates and handily won the March 4 presidential primary, the Rhode Island delegation has moved swiftly to rally behinnd Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Demnocratic nominee. The state convention unanimously endorsed Obama.

Here is the list of Democrats who will attend the convention in Denver:

Male delegates: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy; U.S. Rep. James Langevin; Providence Mayor David Cicillline; Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch; State Democratic Chairman William Lynch; Frank Montanaro, president of the state AFL-CIO and the Democratic national committeeman; Mark Weiner of East Greenwich, a top party fundraiser; Joseph R. Paolino Jr., former Providence mayor; Richard Licht, former lieutenant governor; Rep. David Caprio, D-Narragansett; John Lynch, party activist; Charles Fogarty, former lieutenant governor; James O'Neil, former attorney general; Walter Stone, lawyer and party activist; Senate President Joseph Montalbano, D-North Providence, and House Speaker William Murphy, D-West Warwick.

Female delegates: Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts; Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport; Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence; Edna O'Neill Mattson, Democratic national committeewoman; former state senator Myrth York; Marti Rosenberg of Cranston, party activist; Jennifer Paolino of Providence, daughter of former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino and Clinton campaign activist; Susan Weiner of East Greenwich, Clinton campaign activist and fundraiser; Kimberly Ahern, of Bristol, Obama campaign activist and law student; Jill Harrington of Cranston, Obama campaign activist; Deb Ruggerio, Jamestown Democratic town chairwoman; Rep. Charlene Lima, D-Cranston; Elizabeth Noonan of Pawtucket, party activist and lawyer; Maureen Martin of South Kingstown, party activist; Lauren Nocera of Providence, party activist; Jill Padwa of Providence, Obama campaign activist; Elizabeth Perik, of East Greenwich, party activist; and Patricia Flanagan of East Greenwich, Clinton campaign activist.

-- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

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