Democratic National Convention 2016: All Your Questions Answered
The convention kicks off today in Philadelphia.
![Jimmy Wright installs the Pennsylvania delegation placard ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 24, 2016.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/AP_dnc_philadelphia_jt_160725_16x9_992.jpg?w=1600)
— -- 1. Who Will Be At The Convention?
2. What Do We Know About The Schedule?
3. What Is Going On With WikiLeaks And DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz And How Will This Impact The Convention?
4. How Does Hillary Clinton Actually Get Nominated?
5. Who Is Tim Kaine And How Did The VP Decision Go Down?
6. Are There Any Bernie-or-Bust Delegates At The Convention? What Do They Have Planned, If Anything?
7. What Will Security Be Like At The Convention?
8. Who Are These Delegates And How Did They Get Chosen?
9. Tell Me Some Fun Facts!
1. Who Will Be At The Convention?
2. What Do We Know About The Schedule?
3. What Is Going On With WikiLeaks And DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz And How Will This Impact The Convention?
What happened: On Friday, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails from top DNC officials from January 2015 through May 2016. We don’t know how those emails were obtained - Wikileaks is not revealing its source - although Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook says he thinks the emails may have come from Russian hackers. The emails showed how DNC officials grew increasingly frustrated with the Sanders camp. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz referred to Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver as an a-- in one email. Sanders supporters were furious, and the senator called for her resignation in an interview on “This Week.” She resigned Sunday afternoon.
Convention Impact: Wasserman Schultz may still open and close this week’s convention. When that happens, it is possible there will be boos and negative responses from Sanders supporters. Wasserman Schultz is not expected to give a major address. Originally, the plan was to have her open the proceedings, speak, and then hand over the gavel to Marcia Fudge, who has been appointed the permanent chair of the convention. Any address Wasserman-Schultz does give will be very brief. But whenever she is on stage, expect boos and jeering from Sanders supporters, who most likely want her absent from the convention entirely.
3. How Does Hillary Clinton Actually Get Nominated?
4. VEEPSTAKES: Who Is Tim Kaine?
Tim Kaine has already appeared at a rally with Clinton. He will address the nation at the convention on Wednesday. For analysis behind the choice, see Rick Klein’s article: http://abcn.ws/2a3PIIj
What He Does Now: U.S. senator from Virginia. Elected in 2012. Serves on Armed Services, Budget, Foreign Relations and Aging Committees.
What He Used to Do: Kaine served as DNC chair from 2009 to 2011. He served as governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010 and lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006. He served as mayor of Richmond, Virginia, from 1998 to 2001. He was first elected to office in 1994 as a Richmond city council member. He said he ran for city council because he thought it was too racially divided. He got his start as a lawyer handling civil rights and fair housing cases as well as representing death row inmates. He attended the University of Missouri and Harvard Law School.
5. Are There Any Bernie-or-Bust Delegates At The Convention? What Do They Have Planned, If Anything?
Most definitely. While the Vermont senator has officially endorsed Clinton, plenty of his supporters are still skeptical about the former secretary of state. The Sanders and Clinton campaigns came together and passed compromise documents in committee on the party's policy "platform" and "rules," but again, many Sanders delegates still feel strongly that their views were not totally represented. It is possible we will see disturbances or protests on the floor related to the transpacific-partnership trade deal or fracking when the convention formally adopts the platform proposal. Likewise, some attendees may express their unhappiness when the rules document is passed. (The proposal was to establish a commission that would discuss super delegates and caucuses and reach a decision by January 2018).
A few progressive delegates have also threatened floor protests when Kaine is announced and colorful, celeb-filled protests and marches outside the arena and around the city are expected all week.
As stated above, now that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has officially resigned, expect booing - if not more - from the delegates who are hardcore Sanders supporters when she takes the stage to open and close the convention.
6. What Will Security Be Like At The Convention?
Philly Commissioner Richard Ross says there will be a “significant” amount of police officers in the city this week, but he declined to give an exact number for safety reasons. Security has been increased since the truck attack in Nice, France; additional barricades have been put up to keep cars from entering certain locations. Ross emphasized that the city has not received any credible threats. There are several protests already planned.
7. Who Are These Delegates And How Did They Get Chosen?
There are 4,763 delegates elected to the DNC. Of these, 4,051 are pledged, or bound to vote for Clinton or Sanders on the first ballot regardless of their personal preferences. The other 712 are “super delegates" -- party leaders and elected officials who are free agents and can cast their ballot for anyone they want. To win the nomination, a candidate needs to amass 2,382 delegates. (This number has been changed from 2,383 during the primaries). By ABC’s count, Clinton easily clears that threshold - she has 2,814 delegates, 2,205 pledged delegates and 609 super delegates. Sanders has 1,893 total delegates: 1, 846 pledged delegates and 47 super delegates. As of July 24, 56 super delegates were uncommitted.
The pledged delegates were either elected directly on the ballot or at state and district conventions.
8. Tell Me Some Fun Facts!
By the numbers: (attributed to the DNC)