Missouri Democrats wrap up their weekend presidential convention in Columbia, completing the selection of the 88 delegates and 13 alternates who will make up the Missouri contingent at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Terry McAuliffe, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was among the notables attending the event. In an interview with the Missourinet, McAuliffe spoke of the importance Democrats attach to this state. He says it is a key battleground state which can expect quite a lot of attention from Democrats at the national level. McAuliffe says Senator John Kerry, the likely Democrat presidential nominee, will visit all areas of the Show-Me State between now and November. McAuliffe says he’s been to Missouri more than a dozen times since taking over the top job with the DNC and has never seen more enthusiasm from the party faithful than he saw at this weekend’s convention. Another national notable in Columbia for the weekend convention was former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, who now serves as the National Chair of the Kerry Campaign. McAuliffe and Shaheen were joined by top Missouri officials, including Governor Bob Holden and St. Louis Congressman Richard Gephardt.
