After multiple episodes of Bernie Sanders delegates booing high-profile Democrats at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, the Hillary Clinton campaign isn’t taking any chances during the roll call of states Tuesday night, which will make her nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate official.
In an email to Clinton’s California delegates late Tuesday morning, Dave Barnhart, a consultant to the Clinton campaign, detailed the campaign’s latest plans to keep peace in the convention hall—especially in and around the California delegation— which emerged as one of the most unruly groups at the convention.
At a breakfast Monday, multiple Sanders delegates loudly booed House Democratic Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a longtime California Democrat whose district sits in San Francisco. Even Sanders himself got an earful when he spoke to the California delegation Tuesday morning. His supporters made it clear that while Bernie may be ready for Hillary, they are not with her, not yet anyway.
“It’s easy to boo, but it is harder to look your kids in the face who will be living under a Donald Trump presidency,” Sanders told the group, only to be met with more boos. According to the Mercury News, pushing and shoving ensued, with one Sanders supporter shouting “You’re ridiculous!” to the most aggressive Berniacs, and another yelling, “Don’t ever touch me again!”
In the email to Hillary delegates, which was obtained by The Daily Beast, Barnhart called floor operations for the California section “HFA’s top priority” for Tuesday night in the convention hall, where the goal will be showing “the strong, positive, energetic support that HRC carries” from California delegates.
He also described the “ramped up whip operation” that Clinton campaign will run on the floor of the convention hall. In addition to asking the pro-Clinton delegates to physically be on the floor to support her during the roll call and televised prime time speeches, the campaign is also planning to add additional people around the California section to supplement the delegates already there.
“We’re providing more support in the form of extra bodies and supporters to cheer, bring energy, wave signs, and show positive support both within and around the California delegation section,” Barnhart wrote.
He also said that the campaign will more actively manage anyone who disrupts the proceedings.
“We’re going to be stricter tonight about unruly individuals—anyone who is physical with delegates, rips up their signs, or outright disrespectful with other delegates,” he warned. “Protest is certainly okay, but unruliness is not—and we’re instructing whips and convention staff to tow a stricter line tonight.”
Barnhart thanked the delegates in advance and added, “Your presence would be greatly appreciated and noted.”
Barnhart did not immidiate respond to a request for comment.