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Former graduate student chosen democratic delegate for Watauga, travels to convention |
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Monday, 23 June 2008 |
by CORY WATSON
News Reporter
A former Appalachian State University graduate student is packing his bags for the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Zack Wynne, who received a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian in 2007, was elected as a delegate for New York senator Hillary Clinton at the Democratic Party’s 5th district convention in Statesville on May 17.
Wynne said participating as a delegate at a convention was something he had wanted to do for some time.
Clinton, despite achieving several late victories in the primary
season, suspended her campaign for president on June 7 and formally
endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Obama is now set to campaign against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for a seat in the Oval Office.
Wynne, who is currently working for the Mary Fant Donnan campaign for
North Carolina Secretary of Labor, said he chose to campaign as a
delegate for Clinton after watching her in various number of televised
primary debates she participated in. Wynne said he believed she
appeared smart and knowledgeable about the issues she talked about.
Wynne also commended Hillary’s work within the United States Senate for the state of New York.
Wynne, 25, says he will still most likely vote for Clinton at the convention despite her decision to suspend her campaign.
“I’m still trying to figure out what to do,” Wynne said. “There are still delegates around the country in the same situation.”
Wynne said although he understands Obama will most likely win, he would vote for Hillary based on a symbolic gesture.
“We’re not trying to tear the party apart,” said Wynne of himself and
other pledged Clinton supporters. “I was elected to vote for Hillary
and that’s what I’m going to do.”
At the North Carolina primary on May 6, Clinton won the 5th district of
North Carolina, receiving three of the allotted five delegates. The
delegates are awarded based on the population of the district. Party
rules state two of the delegates given to Clinton must be men, while
another must be a woman. Wynne was chosen as one of the two men.
The other two spots were given to Obama.
Wynne, who originally supported Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said he felt
the extended primary season will ultimately prove to have strengthened
the party now that Clinton has endorsed Obama.
“I would say the party is a lot more unified,” Wynne said. “A lot of
people said [Clinton’s extended presence in the campaign] was a bad
thing.”
Wynne says should Obama win his party’s nomination for president at the
convention, he will ultimately offer Obama his support.
To help tell the story of his path to the DNC, Wynne has created an online blog titled “Zack Goes to the DNC.”
The Democratic National Convention will be held from Aug. 25-28.
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