by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Perhaps not surprising, but certainly striking nonetheless, is the explosion of press and outside-the-center activity now that Bill Clinton's arrival is near at hand.  Where once the blogger riser was empty, now there's no room for everyone.  Leno/Migden and Blumenfield/Healey/Waldman will apparently be kicking things off this morning- presumably catching everyone while they're half asleep and/or hungover from last night.  Frank Russo kinda stole my headline before I could write it, but it's a good one- Migden-Leno Endorsement Fight May Overshadow Bill Clinton Speech at California Democratic Party Convention Today.  As a few of us were discussing earlier, it'll be a story for the ages if Carole Migden manages to steal the spotlight from Bill Clinton.

...and we're off.

[Update by Lucas] To clarify how this vote is going down, a "Yes" vote would be for the initial winner of yesterday's endorsement (Migden and Blumenfield) while a "No" vote would mean no endorsement of anyone.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Senate Democratic leadership rally around one of their own, despite record fine by Fair Political Practices Commission and incumbent trailing badly in polls

By Frank D. Russo

A bitter fight for the endorsement by the California Democratic Party between incumbent State Senator Carole Migden and challenger Assemblymember Mark Leno is shaping up to be the biggest battle at the state party convention being held in San Jose. The picture above is typical of what delegates and other other observers have seen over the last two days as they exit the convention floor.

The Democratic Senate leadership has pulled out all the stops to get Migden endorsed as dozens of Senate staffers, along with other supporters of hers, have been holding signs in meetings and the hallways urging that the party endorse her. Unfortunately, this is one of those incumbent protection moves, where challenges to an incumbent must be fought at all costs. Delegates appointed by Senators who would have supported Leno, the challenger, have been replaced by those loyal to Senator Migden.