Waiting for DNC Rules Committee meeting

The Democratic National Committee got underway at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia this afternoon. In one of the first — and potentially most contentious — meetings, the Rules Committee was scheduled to consider, among other items, a proposal to eliminate superdelegates.

In advance of the 1pm meeting — which staff members said was already running 45 minutes late because of a pre-briefing — there were at least 100 would-be audience lined up in the hallway of the convention center outside room 120, waiting for seats. The press was held behind a barrier at the end of the hallway, waiting

One of the folks waiting for a seat was Rhode Islander David Segal, the executive director of Demand Progress, who said he was there to support the superdelegates proposal.

“The main thing I’m here for and have been organizing around is the superdelegates issue. It wouldn’t affect who’s credentialed at this convention,” said Segal, “But going foreward, the only delegates would be pledged delegates based on the caucus and primary processes that map to popular support.”

Asked how important it was to have a Rhode Island delegate on the Rules Committee, Segal replied, “Very important because of who that delegate is — we have a principled organizer in Aaron Regunberg.” Regunberg’s efforts had helped to “his presence has done a lot” to facilitate support for the proposal, Segal said.

At about 1:30, members of the press were admitted, with the meeting already in progress.