The Orion Online

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Online Exclusives

April 13, 2008

Chico State junior Ryan McElhinney and his running mate Kimberly Durso will be delegates for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer.

By 2 p.m., a crowd of about 30 had lined up outside the Park Tower Pavilion doors for the caucus. Only attendees could vote for delegates, and ballots were only passed out between 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., when each candidate vying for the delegate spots gave 30-second speeches.

The room was decorated like a cross between a student council election and a Fourth of July picnic with hand-painted posters urging support for different candidates and American flag-themed balloons and centerpieces.

Children ran underfoot, and it seemed as though everywhere, people were gathered in groups chatting and laughing.

The festive feeling hit Durso, the founder of the Chico for Obama group, as she spotted friends and family throughout the room.

"It's like 'This is Your Life' or a really great birthday party," she said.

Junior Aaron Skaggs, president of the Chico State Student Democratic Club, was also running for the delegate spot and felt the same.

"Whatever happens, it's exciting how many people showed up," he said.

McElhinney, as part of a team with Durso, got 213 votes, almost half of the 439 eligible caucus voters.

Skaggs showed strong, getting 61 votes. Skaggs still plans to attend the convention, he said. He is applying to be an at-large delegate.

Even with the win, McElhinney has a ways to go before he sets foot on the convention floor.

The plan now is to "hold bake sales and figure out how to hitchhike to Denver," he said.

Ellen Walrath can be reached at
ewalrath@theorion.com

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