Dana Kennedy

DENVER -- In the upstairs room of a restaurant near the Colorado Convention Center Tuesday, a group of female delegates to the Democratic National Convention met to discuss the organization to which they belong - one they hope will become a new power in politics, both in Arizona and nationwide.

Emerge, founded in California in 2002, is a group that strives to "identify, educate and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue elective office at the local and state level." It offers training in "all aspects" of political campaigning, from fundraising to public speaking to Internet outreach.

The Arizona chapter was established in 2004, and since then has produced a number of successful graduates, as evidenced by the half-dozen or so members of the Arizona delegation who entered politics via Emerge training.

"Emerge women all ran a campaign to become a delegate, and they were all successful in their efforts," said Dana Kennedy, a delegate who is executive director of the Arizona branch. 

DENVER -- Dana Kennedy, communications director of the Arizona AFL-CIO and a Democratic National Convention delegate pledged to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), said she doesn't believe there will be anything in the role of Clinton or her delegates to derail the nomination of Illinois senator Barack Obama.

"We already had a meeting with Senator Clinton, and it's the understanding that we will be released to Obama," said Kennedy.

Kennedy's comments echoed those of Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, who told PolitickerAZ.com on Sunday that she expected there would be a symbolic vote on Sen. Clinton's nomination, at which time her delegates will be released to the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.

DENVER -- Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County supervisor and an Arizona delegate to the Democratic National Convention who is pledged to Hillary Clinton, told PolitickerAZ.com that she envisions an orderly demonstration by Clinton supporters, but worries other backers of the New York senator might not share her mindset.

Wilcox, who is part of the "whip team" in charge of making sure that Clinton's delegates stick to the program, said the job of her and the other whips will be to "keep everyone calm."

"I think what's going to happen is that [Clinton's] name will be entered into nomination, her delegates will go up and vote, and then we'll transfer over to Obama."