Subject: Re: Coverage of DWS in Alaska
From: Tracie Pough <[email-masked]>
To: Debbie Wasserman Schultz <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, "Bonosky, Garret" <[email-masked]>, Kate Houghton <[email-masked]>, "Banfill, Ryan" <[email-masked]>, "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 05:30:14 -0700

One of the clips I read this am included a positive quote.

- TP

On May 16, 2016, at 7:30 AM, "[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

Yes, that was good. But he used the numerical count on the counter convention crowd and just said "huge" for the dinner. I guess that was his compromise on his version of the number vs. ours. Thanks so much for everyone's help on this swing. It was successful because of your efforts.

DWS

On May 16, 2016, at 7:17 AM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

AND he said it was just 25 who trickled out and a huge crowd remained to listen

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>
Date: 05/16/2016 01:51 (GMT-06:00)
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: Tracie Pough <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Bonosky, Garret" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Kate Houghton <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Banfill, Ryan" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Coverage of DWS in Alaska

Not surprised that he included nothing from anyone who had something positive to say about my coming or the speech. Interesting that he didn't write that my opponent Skyped in though.

DWS

On May 16, 2016, at 1:34 AM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: "Garcia, Walter" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: 05/15/2016 19:35 (GMT-09:00)
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Wei, Shu-Yen" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Palermo, Rachel" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Coverage of DWS in Alaska

At tense Alaska Democratic convention, allegations of Clinton favoritism fly<https://www.adn.com/article/20160515/tense-alaska-democratic-convention-allegations-clinton-favoritism-fly>
By Alex DeMarban<https://www.adn.com/author/alex-demarban>, Alaska Dispatch News

In what many called an unusually large state convention, the Alaska Democratic Party this weekend chose its delegates for the national convention in July, amid a clash over concerns by some Bernie Sanders fans that the head of the Democratic National Committee has improperly taken steps to benefit Hillary Clinton.

The anger over Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was highlighted when more than 25 Sanders supporters walked out of her keynote speech Saturday night at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, though they left in a trickle while a huge crowd remained to hear the Florida congresswoman and DNC chair call for unity among Democrats to stop the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump.

She warned that the Republican party has laid the groundwork for Trump's political rise with its divisive and hateful rhetoric. She warned that Trump, as president, would return America to the days of George W. Bush that in 2007 led to the nation’s worst economic crash since the Great Depression.

“So Trump isn’t something new -- he’s just the old Republican brand, but with a little extra bronzer on -- and he’s that much more dangerous,” she said. "We have only ourselves to blame if we don't come together."

Her message didn't resonate with some Sanders supporters who say she improperly steered funds and other support toward the Clinton campaign<http://www.adn.com/article/20151221/outside-billionaires-fuel-joint-effort-between-clinton-alaska-democrats>.

Ian Smith from Kenai walked out of her speech.

“As long as she takes this money I can’t trust her,” he said. “It hurts me to say that.”

After Wasserman Schultz spoke, Luis Miranda, DNC communications director, said she wasn’t doing interviews and had to hurry to catch a plane leaving Alaska.

But when pressed, she denied taking steps to benefit Clinton.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.

Miranda added: “If she was trying to stack the deck, she’s doing a terrible job because it’s been a competitive primary.”

At the nearby Egan Center, Sanders supporters danced at an event organized to protest Wasserman Schultz's speech. The event, attended by more than 200 through the night, was organized in part by Ed Cullinane. A member of the state central committee from an Anchorage House district, Cullinane supported efforts at the state’s three-day convention, but said he couldn’t tolerate Wasserman Schultz's “unethical actions.”

The event featured a prerecorded televised appearance by Sanders' wife, Jane Sanders, who shocked the crowd when she introduced her husband on screen.

In a short speech, Sanders thanked Alaska for its huge support, and said he wants to create “a government that works for all of us and not just the 1 percent.”

When the appearance ended, one woman shouted, “This is awesome!” as the dancing resumed and the crowd chanted, “Bernie! Bernie!”

The events capped a day when the party delegates chose 16 delegates for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, with 13 to vote for Sanders and three for Clinton. Four superdelegates that can vote for either candidate are also headed to the national convention to help pick the presidential nominee.

The delegates will include Jill Yordy, the Alaska director for the Sanders campaign, who will cast her vote for Sanders.

Sanders has a shot at overtaking Clinton, she said. One thing Yordy wants to share with others in Philadelphia is the passion Alaskans have for Sanders, who earned more than 80 percent support in the Democratic caucus in March.

That passion was apparent at the state’s convention, she said, with unusually large numbers of delegates traveling huge distances from across Alaska to show their support for him.

“He appeals to people who have felt disenfranchised by the party system,” she said.

State Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, is also heading to Philadelphia. Calling a Trump presidency "a dangerous proposition,” he said he will vote for Clinton.

He said he supports Sanders’ idealism and said the candidate has shaped the discussion in a positive way, highlighting issues such as income disparity and the need for campaign finance reform.

“Nothing but good has come from his run,” he said. “If he was selected as Hillary Clinton’s running mate, that’d be terrific.”

From: Walter Garcia <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 6:33 PM
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Wei, Shu-Yen" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Palermo, Rachel" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Coverage of DWS in Alaska

Hundreds of Democrats Converge in Anchorage for State Democratic Party Convention<http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Hundreds-of-Democrats-Converge-in-Anchorage-for-State-Democratic-Party-Convention-379472211.html>
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) Hundreds of Alaska democrats are converging in Anchorage this weekend for the state party convention to decide who will represent the state at the national convention in July.

The first day of the weekend-long event kicked off Friday at UAA Student Union.

The convention follows the democratic caucus where Bernie Sanders won 81 percent of the vote in the March.

Hillary Clinton captured 21 percent of delegates.

Jake Hamburg, communications director for Alaska Democratic Party, said among party business items delegates will discuss possible changes to the caucus process.

"We saw some people wanting to participate, but just couldn't access a caucus location so we're exploring some ideas of doing remote caucus participation, or absentee process or maybe even going to a presidential preference poll," Hamburg said.

Greg Smith, a delegate from Juneau said there's always room for improvement.

"I think there is a group of people that feel like the process, the nomination process maybe isn't fully open, fully fair," Smith said. "You have to be a registered democrat to participate in that caucus, you have to have been free from 9:30 until noon on the day of the caucus so you know people are working and there's discussions going on about is there way to improve that."

Hamburg said much like the caucus in March, there's a record turnout for the state convention.

"We've not seen a turnout a turnout like this for a state convention, I think certainly in recent memory if not ever," Hamburg said. "There's just a lot of enthusiasm this year and because we have presidential campaigns active in Alaska they are making sure their folks turn out to the state convention."

Wanda Smith, a delegate from Anchorage said she's seen some differences in the voters who have turned out this year in comparison with 2008.

"We have more younger people that are out, there are more issues they're fired up over the issues they would like to see changed or implemented, they're excited about getting even more younger people to vote on issues that concern them, they seem to be more interested in politics and reality of life and life's issues," Smith said.

537 of 539 elected delegates have registered to attend the convention.

On Saturday, delegates will participate in the presidential fan out and elect District-Level delegates, party leader and elected official delegates and elect at large delegates along with alternates.

In the evening, ADP will host a reception with Democratic National Convention Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center.

A group of Alaska democrats who say they're not affiliated with any campaign said disagree with the party's leadership at the national level and DNC Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz' treatment of Bernie Sanders supporters.

Ed Cullinane, a Sanders supporter is part of a group organizing an alternative event at the Egan Convention Center on Saturday.

"The alternative is about our displeasure with the keynote speaker at the democratic convention dinner after the dinner by the name of Debbie Wasserman Schultz," Cullinane said.

Hamburg said it's not uncommon to see tension in a contested election year and democrats should celebrate Debbie Wasserman Schultz coming to the state.

"We invited our national committee woman back in February of last year to come to Alaska and she accepted our offer to come and help us this time and we're just really excited that somebody from the national party would come to speak to Alaskans and provide her thoughts and I expect democrats will give her the respect that she deserves," Hamburg said.

Hamburg said on Friday it's the party's responsibility to remain neutral and he believes democrats will rally behind whoever wins the democratic nomination.

From: Walter Garcia <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 8:29 AM
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Wei, Shu-Yen" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "Palermo, Rachel" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Coverage of DWS in Alaska

Starting chain.
Riled Sanders fans rise up as state Democratic convention begins<https://www.adn.com/article/20160513/riled-sanders-fans-rise-state-democratic-convention-begins>
Alex DeMarban<https://www.adn.com/author/alex-demarban>, Alaska Dispatch News

Internal strife rocked the Alaska Democratic Party on Friday as it headed into its three-day state convention, with some members of the party that heavily favor Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton protesting the convention by planning an alternative event Saturday night.

“Alaska voters are an independent people and they don’t want to be told what to do,” said Ed Cullinane, a member of the state central committee from an Anchorage House district.

Cullinane helped organize the protest to the convention, where Democrats on Saturday will choose delegates to cast votes at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

Though Clinton appears poised for victory in the hard-fought race, Sanders supporters say he can still claim a win though it would take a surge of delegates.

The anti-convention event at the Egan Civic and Convention Center comes because Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz plans to give the keynote speech at the convention in Anchorage Saturday, Cullinane said.

Alaskan Democrats gave Sanders 81.6 percent of their support in the March caucus. Many believe Wasserman Schultz has limited debates and unfairly allocated resources to give Clinton a boost, he said.

“A lot of us feel that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has displayed very unethical behavior,” he said.

At the state convention on Friday afternoon at the UAA Student Union, during an opening day filled with discussions on matters such as Medicaid expansion and climate change, supporters of both Sanders and Clinton said it was important for Alaska Democrats to unite as the national convention approaches.

“We all need to be respectful and find common ground,” said Shauna Thornton, a state delegate and “Bernie fan” who hopes to be selected as a national delegate from Alaska on Saturday.

Thornton, who is running for a state House seat on the Kenai Peninsula, said she’s not angry Wasserman Schultz is speaking.

“She was asked to come over a year ago, so what do you do? So I’ll attend and ask questions about her positions,” Thornton said.

Cullinane also launched a petition at MoveOn.org<http://moveon.org> asking the Alaska party to “un-invite” Wasserman Schultz. It had 64 signatures Friday afternoon.

He said the anti-convention, which has no official name, will feature a teleconferenced appearance from Tim Canova, Schultz’ Democratic primary opponent in Florida. Plans also include a prerecorded presentation by Jane Sanders’ and a dunk tank with political activist Ray Metcalfe in the wet seat. The event will be held in Summit Hall at the Egan, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Wasserman's speech is planned for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. She's also scheduled to attend a reception there at 6 p.m.

People need to put aside the “divisiveness” said Jennifer Smith, a state convention delegate from a Juneau district who supports Clinton because she’s “cool under fire” and well-versed on critical national issues.

“If you want to have an alternative convention then fine, but if you really want to have change in the party structure you should directly address it to (Wasserman Schultz), and not do it through protests,” she said.

Alaska Democratic Convention gets underway in Anchorage<http://www.ktva.com/alaska-democratic-convention-gets-underway-in-anchorage-925/>

By Lauren Maxwell<http://www.ktva.com/authors/lauren-maxwell/>, KTVA Alaska

At the State Democratic Convention in Anchorage, one of the big jobs party leaders have is to elect delegates to attend the national convention in July, when the presidential nominee will be decided.

Back in March, candidate Bernie Sanders won the state’s Democratic caucus in a big way. All 16 of the state’s regular delegates who will go the national convention in Philadelphia are pledged to vote for him. But the state also has four super delegates who can vote for whomever they want.

Casey Steinau is one of the super delegates. Steinau is the chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party, but as a super delegate, she’s undeclared.

”I am the chairman of the party and I believe that it is my job to represent 100 percent of the Alaska Democrats and I take that roll very seriously,” Steinau said. “I don’t think my personal preferences should be influencing anyone.”

But the idea that super delegates can vote for whomever they want doesn’t sit well with many Democrats.

“I think there probably will be a resolution or a platform change or something coming out of this convention which says we don’t necessarily agree with this and we would ask the DNC to reassess it,” Steinau said.

Steinau said the resolution might ask to get rid of super delegates altogether or require them to vote for the person who won the state caucus.

Meanwhile, Ddemocrats who support Hilary Clinton are also attending the convention. Carolyn Lee with the Hilary for Alaska campaign said there are a lot of people who like both candidates.

“We are also getting a lot of Bernie supporters coming up and saying, ‘I’m going to be with Hilary in a couple of weeks but today I’m with Bernie,’” Lee said.

Steinau said she was hopeful Alaska Democrats would support whichever candidate wins the Party’s nomination.

“They both bring so much to the table and at the end of the day when that person is decided I know that we will come together as a united front.”