Maryland Democratic Delegation finalized, Glendening and Kennedy Townsend selected as add-on’s

Former Gov. Parris Glendening and former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend were selected by the state Democratic Central Committee as un-pledged add-on delegates to represent Maryland at the Democratic National Convention, this morning.

Despite their titles, Kennedy Townsend and Glendening have endorsed candidates during the primary cycle; Kennedy Townsend has been a vocal supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for several months, while Glendening endorsed Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) last December and has not officially endorsed another candidate since Richardson ended his campaign in January. Richardson, himself, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in March.

An additional 15 at-large delegates and another 9 delegates selected from party leaders and elected officials were selected. Of these 24 delegates, which are tied to the state’s popular vote, which Obama carried in the Feb. 12 primary by 24 points, 15 are pledged Obama supporters and 9 are pledged Clinton supporters. Four additional pledged at-large alternates, three of which are Obama supporters, were also selected.

The committee meeting was led by state party Chairman Michael Cryor and other Democratic leaders.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and congressional candidates Donna Edwards and Jennifer Dougherty were also in attendance.

At the conclusion of the event, Franchot and Edwards both said the composition of the delegation was a fair representation of the state’s popular vote.

“The two campaigns worked together and (the delegation) is very fair to both Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton,” Franchot told PolitickerMD.com.

The comptroller, an Obama supporter, also called Kennedy Townsend and Glendening, “Two distinguished Marylanders.”

“The campaigns sat down in a very smart way and I think that is evidence of what we are going to do at the national level,” Edwards, also an Obama supporter, said.

David Paulson, the communications director of the state party, told PolitickerMD.com that he was “thrilled” to “have a delegation that is prepared to fight” to both win the presidency and “pick-up two more congressional seats.”

Dougherty, the nominee in the Sixth Congressional District, and Frank Kratovil, the nominee in the First Congressional District, are the two Democratic candidates seeking to win seats currently held by Republicans.

Paulson said the delegation selected today was “reflective of those individuals who have worked very hard for Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.”

He also said the “split” between Kennedy Townsend and Glendening was “done intentionally” to “promote unity” within the Democratic Party.

The delegation selected today is as follows:

Pledged Party Leaders and Elected Official Delegates: 9

Del. Curt Anderson (Obama)

Mayor Sheila Dixon (Obama)

Comptroller Peter Franchot (Obama)

Attorney General Doug Gansler (Obama)

Councilwoman Jen Terrasa (Obama)

County Executive Ken Ulman (Obama)

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (Clinton)

Del. Carolyn J. B. Howard (Clinton)

Del. Susan Lee (Clinton)

Pledged At-Large Delegates: 15

Councilman Jamie Benoit (Obama)

Joseph Hansen (Obama)

Penny McCrimmon (Obama)

Cheryl Miller (Obama)

Joan Pitkin (Obama)

Julie Randall (Obama)

Elly Shaw-Belblidia (Obama)

Dana Vickers Shelly (Obama)

Jason Waskey (Obama)

Former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne Curry (Clinton)

Del. Adrienne Jones (Clinton)

Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson (Clinton)

Loretta Johnson (Clinton)

Ellis Mottur (Clinton)

Marcia Massey (Clinton)

Pledged At-Large Alternates: 4

Jean Bailey (Obama)

Councilwoman Helen Holton (Obama)

Rob Yochem (Obama)

Ida Bailey-Jones (Clinton)