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For the first time in a US presidential election runup, American citizens supporting the Democrats Abroad Global Primary voted for their own candidates at over 100 voting centres in over 30 countries (including Switzerland and France) in person, but also by mail, fax or online. As Christine Schon Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad in Washington writes, this is only the beginning. It is still a long way to November and the presidential election.

Barack Obama won our worldwide primary, with 65.8% of the vote, followed by Hillary Clinton with 32.5%.  Joe Biden received 0.1%; John Edwards 0.7%; Dennis Kucinich 0.6%; Bill Richardson 0.1%; and Uncommitted 0.2%.

You participated in the Global Primary, you read about it in your local paper, in the Stars and Stripes, in the Herald Tribune.  Heard about it on the radio, saw it on TV.  As we gathered around the world to vote, our story was picked up and followed – with photo coverage in both the LA Times and New York Times, and clips from CNN to NPR.  Take a look at our site www.democratsabroad.org to see our Voting Centers from Indonesia to the UK to Mexico< /st1:place> and beyond.

But this is only the beginning.  And it’s a long way to November and electing Democrats – from the White House to every House and Senate race across America with our votes from around the world.

Over the weekend, democrats across Europe, Middle East and Africa met in Brussels to select the first of our at-large delegates – 4 Obama delegates and 2 Clinton delegates --  to the Democratic National Convention.

In April, we’ll be meeting in Vancouver, for the Americas Regional Caucus to select 1 Obama delegate and 1 Clinton delegate, and the Asia-Pacific Regional Caucus to select 1 Obama delegate.  Following those caucuses, 5 more delegates will be selected for a total of 3 Obama delegates and 2 Clinton Delegates at the Global Convention, along with an alternate for each candidate.  (The clock is ticking for delegate candidates to send in forms and candidate statements – visit http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2008/01/08/want-be-de legate-denver-deadlines-coming-delegate-filing-form-pdf.)

The count so far for Democrats Abroad?  Our 22-member delegation will include 9 Obama delegates and 5 Clinton delegates elected at the Regional Caucuses and Global Convention.  The remaining 8, our superdelegates, are currently 2 uncommitted, 2 Clinton, and 4 Obama delegates.  So – 13 Obama, 7 Clinton, 2 uncommitted – each with a half vote at the Convention.

Democrats Abroad is also drafting the 2008 Platform, reflecting our views on the issues that matter.  If you would like to make your voice heard this way, please submit your plank – or resolution – to •This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it• .  Interested?  Please send in your proposal as soon as possible.  We’ll be posting both the 2004 Platform on the membership pages of the website, as well as the preliminary 2008 version in early April, before adopting our final platform in Vancouver.

Today, we care deeply about each of our candidates, and the challenges ahead.  Like all of us, I want to take back our White House back this November, and elect democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. 

I hope that you will join in getting out the Democratic vote, by signing up today to register to vote at www.VoteFromAbroad.org, by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to request their absentee ballots now (check out the tell-a-friend function on the site), by volunteering your time, talent and energy to get out the vote, and – if you can – by making a contribution to Democrats Abroad at https://secure.democratsabroad.org/contribute/ to help our efforts to get out the vote.  Because with your help, we can elect a larger majority in the House, we can elect a filibuster-proof Senate, and we can elect a Democratic president.

Comments (2)

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ONLY SECOND CHOICE...BUT!
written by Michael, March 19, 2008

At first everyone was talking about the most qualified candidate but all the while not giving any media attention. Now we are looking for someone with ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE...since the 3 candidates don't have any. Unfortunately we had one and he could have taken care of the war and racial problems all at the same time--RICHARDSON, BILL--but he dropped out. Now we have to pick a secound choice?

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written by joannealter, March 25, 2008

Michael has got a point. But then, has experience ever really made a difference in US politics? Can any candidate ever really be truthful about what they think or feel? Aren't they all kowtowing to a consensus majority (or so-called majority because no real majority has ever voted in a US president since the first presidents...

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