http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/missouride_1265.mp3
The Democratic National Convention begins today in Boston...KSMU's Missy Shelton is covering the Missouri delegates at the convention and has this report on the reception they got Sunday night.
AT A RECEPTION SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE BOSTON MARRIOTT LONG WHARF, MISSOURI DELEGATES MINGLED WITH DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS LIKE CONGRESSMAN IKE SKELTON AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOE MAXWELL.
THE EVENT WAS HOSTED BY ST LOUIS CONGRESSMAN LACEY CLAY.
AMONG THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE SPRINGFIELD BUSINESSMAN SAM HAMRA, HIS WIFE AND SON.
HAMRA ISN'T A DELEGATE BUT HE DECIDED TO COME TO BOSTON FOR THE CONVENTION ANYWAY.
HAMRA SAYS SINCE HE'S NOT A DELEGATE, HE'LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE FELLOW DEMOCRATS HE MET WHEN HE WAS A DELEGATE AT PREVIOUS CONVENTIONS.
MINGLING IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE CONVENTIONS.SOME PEOPLE COMPLAIN THE CONVENTIONS HAVE BECOME LITTLE MORE THAN A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO MINGLE SINCE EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE WILL BE AND CHOOSING THE NOMINEE IS ONLY A FORMALITY.
BUT HAMRA SAYS THE CONVENTIONS ARE STILL VALUABLE TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT LIKE THEY USED TO BE.
WHILE HAMRA AND HIS FAMILY ARE NOT HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE CONVENTION, STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHARON BROOKS IS IN BOSTON TO SERVE ON THE CREDENTIAL COMMITTEE AND TO HELP HONOR A GROUP OF DELEGATES WHO CREATED A STIR AT A PREVIOUS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
AND BROOKS SAID SUNDAY NIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE CONVENTION HAD NOT OFFICIALLY GOTTEN UNDER WAY, SHE WAS ALREADY EXCITED ABOUT CAMPAIGING FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WHEN SHE RETURNS TO MISSOURI.
SHE SAYS SHE'S EAGER TO HEAR FROM THE PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JOHN KERRY AND HIS RUNNING MATE JOHN EDWARDS.
BROOKS IS ONE OF EIGHTY-EIGHT DELEGATES FROM MISSOURI.SHE AND THE OTHERS BEGINNING TONIGHT WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS AT THE FLEET CENTER AND PARTICIPATE IN CHOOSING JOHN KERRY AS THEIR PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE."