Martin at Democratic National Convention

As the Democratic National Convention opens in Philadelphia USA today, Kilcullen will have a ringside observer at the event, writes Brian Byrne.

Our own Martin Heydon, FG deputy for Kildare South, will be attending on behalf of the Fine Gael party.

Martin was appointed Chairman of the FG Parliamentary Party earlier this year.

The event opens at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, beginning exactly one week after the 2016 Republican National Convention.

The presumptive Presidential Nominee is Hilary Clinton of New York, who has announced her running mate and Vice-Presidential Nominee as Tim Kaine from Virginia.

There are expected to be 4,769 delegates (worth 4,765 delegate votes) to the DNC. A candidate needs a majority of delegate votes to win the presidential nomination, which in this case is a minimum of 2,383 votes. Mrs Clinton has a presumed count of 2,746 delegate votes already through the Primaries.

The first speaker at the opening tonight will be Michelle Obama, on the theme of ‘United Together’. Former President Bill Clinton will speak tomorrow night on the theme of ‘A Lifetime of Fighting for Children and Families’.

President Barak Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak on Wednesday night on the theme of ‘Working Together’.

Chelsea Clinton, the candidate’s daughter, will speak on Thursday and introduce Mrs Clinton.

“It should be quite an experience,” Deputy Heydon told the Diary before heading off.