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Maine Delegate Applauds Action on Superdelegates in Fiery Democratic Convention Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMIvp5hVV_A

PORTLAND, Maine - Among the speakers at yesterday's opening day of the Democratic Convention was outgoing Portland state Rep. Diane Russell.

Russell has been pushing a proposal to reduce the influence of so-called superdelegates in the Democratic Party's selection of presidential nominees.

The Democratic rules committee didn't accept that proposal, but did authorize a study of the issue. Russell, speaking to the delegates yesterday, claimed that as a victory.

"I never thought we'd get it through the Maine convention, and here we're getting it through the national convention," Russell said. "You have to understand something - the fight to reform the super-delegate system was never about this election.  It was always about democratizing our party for generations to come. And it may be hard, and believe me, it may be messy, but ladies and gentlemen, this is what democracy looks like."

The crowd erupted into wild cheers.  Russell, a Bernie Sanders supporter, said she was getting behind the party's presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

"In the end, I stand with my Democratic family in making sure we win this fall," she said.  "Paul LePage is my governor.  I do not need to see anyone like him become the president of this United States," she said. "Whether you support Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, we are all in this together and we will all have a voice in the Clinton administration."

Russell said a Donald Trump presidency will hurt the American people, "and I am not OK with that."