Elections

Democrats Hastily Nominate Tim Kaine For VP To Avoid Boos

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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PHILADELPHIA — Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is now officially the Democratic vice presidential nominee, but party officials intentionally rushed the formal proceedings here at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday to avoid the boos and protests of Bernie Sanders supporters.

“The chair will entertain a motion to suspend the rules and nominate Tim Kaine by acclamation as the vice presidential candidate of the Democratic Party,” said Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, who took over as chairman of the Democratic National Convention after the ouster of Debbie Wasserman Schultz this week. “Is there a second?”

“All in favor of the motion to suspend the rules and nominate by acclamation Tim Kaine as the Democratic party’s vice presidential candidate, please say aye,” Fudge said to both applause and protests.

After having deemed the measure passed, Fudge continued talking as some in the crowd could be heard protesting and demanding an actual roll call vote of all the delegates. The music inside the convention hall was then turned up to drown out the protests.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny reported that Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott had been scheduled to give a three minute nominating speech in support of Kaine, but it was cancelled after convention officials and Hillary Clinton’s campaign were “afraid of boos from Sanders supporters and other progressive groups.”

Progressives and supporters of Sanders aren’t particularly enthusiastic about Clinton’s selection of Kaine, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, as her running mate. Their beef with Kaine, a member of the Democratic establishment, includes his past support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Kaine is expected to accept the nomination during a Wednesday night speech.

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