Edwards First in the Hearts of Culver City Dems — It’s Just Not Official

The Dems assembled to determine which Presidential contender to endorse.

To help uncloud their minds, 44 fully engaged club members were treated — by proxy —to the most spirited Presidential debate this town will see before next November’s election.

At the request of Club President Greg Valtierra — who will return next year for a second term — seven of the eight Presidential campaigns dispatched delegates to the Vets Auditorium to enthusiastically make the cases for their candidates. (Only Christopher Dodd’s people declined to send anyone.)

Well-Armed Speakers

The seven of them were so electric and colorful that the candidates were scarcely missed. Mostly young, and powerfully articulate, they were afire with nearly unquenchable passion for their bosses.

Erica Waddell, representing New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, was typical of the socko dazzlers.

She captured and held the senior-tilting audience every time she spoke. A member of Mensa, pretty and charismatic, she did not have to prove she was the smartest (and likely the youngest) person in the Rotunda Room. But she talked at 100 miles an hour, which seemed compelling at the time but ultimately was not helpful.

In the two rounds of Dem Club balloting to determine an endorsee, Gov. Richardson drew three votes on the first ballot, none on the second.

Anyone Dissuaded?

The concept of inviting witty, hip and richly informed proxies to speak for the candidates was a commendable one, said club members,

But the trouble was most if not all Democrats came to the Vets with their minds made up.

Here is a survey of how the delegates played out:

Barack Obama was represented by Alek Lev of Santa Monica, who may have been auditioning for a show business gig. Chatty, a little too magnetic, too funny by half sometimes, Mr. Lev seemed to know the Obama positions and storyline as well as the candidate. But Mr. Lev’s presentation was as much about him as about Mr. Obama.

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s proxy was Max Kanin, a graduate student who may have been the most impressive presenter. An excellent communicator, he was clear, succinct, on-point.

The Softest Pitch

Isn’t it ironic that John Edwards, the prizewinner for the evening, was fronted by Deana Igelsrud, the weakest of the seven? She said she was nervous, and she read her remarks.

Carleen Brown, the senior member of the group, a teacher at Palisades High School, spoke for Dennis Kucinich, and she fell into the true believer category. This did not diminish the strong quality of her advocacy for Mr. Kucinch, but her cheerleader approach had a tendency to tint the quality of her answers.

The unlikeliest appearance was made by one Mindi Iden, standing in for cranky, quirky, little known and even lighter funded Mike Gravel of Alaska. Mr. Gravel never was a serious challenger, but Ms. Iden has his program down well, and she made him sound like a near frontrunner.

Presentation vs. Candidate

Joe Biden was muscularly represented by the well-prepared, sound bite-minded Matt Littman, who probably should be on the East Coast stumping for Mr. Biden. Saddled with a distant candidate, Mr. Littman’s persuasiveness necessarily followed the same route that smoke rings travel.

And so, the man whom Culver City Democrats want to see sweep into the White House next autumn, without question, is Mr. Edwards. He has consistently been running a remote third nationally, and he is not favored to win any of the early-state primaries.

He Was the Uncrowned King

Practically speaking, Mr. Edwards was the runaway vote-winner in the club’s end-of-a-long-evening balloting, but with a caveat.

After two ballots, the Dems were unable to reach a consensus.

Owing to the large field of contenders, Mr. Edwards fell short of the 60 percent threshold required by club by-laws, and therefore Culver City Democrats, officially, will not be endorsing any contender.

There is no doubt, though, the former North Carolina senator was the choice of the people.

With 15 votes on the first ballot, Mr. Edwards was 10 short of 60 percent. He edged a little closer in the second round where his 19 votes were three shy of the endorsement level.

Mr. Obama ran second both times, and Sen. Clinton was not a serious contender.