“Mr. Chairman,” the man shouted, “I am the deputy chairman of the New Mexico delegation. I request a poll of the delegation!”

The audience roared with laughter. There were only five delegates and they were sitting next to one another.

“That was funny,” Stone said.

“They’re buying time,” Ann said. “I don’t like this.”

The chairman began calling the names of the New Mexico delegation. When he got to Ed Eagle, there was no response.

Stone checked the Virginia delegation again. Willingham was there but Otero and Eagle were not.

“New Mexico, do you wish to cast only four votes?”

“One moment, Mr. Chairman,” the deputy delegation leader said, looking desperately around the floor.

Then Pete Otero strode up and took the microphone away from the man. Ed Eagle was standing beside him. “Mr. Chairman, I am Pete Otero, governor of the great state of New Mexico!” he shouted.

The chairman shouted back, “I thought you looked familiar!”

The audience roared with laughter again.

“Mr. Chairman,” Otero said again, “at this time I wish to withdraw from the race for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party.”

There was a mixed audience roar, cheers and Nooos.

“Mr. Chairman,” Otero shouted, “the New Mexico delegation casts all its votes, and I request all delegates pledged to me to vote for the next president of the United States, Katharine Lee!”

The audience went crazy. The chairman put up with it for a couple of minutes, then began hammering the podium with his gavel. Then, as the roar subsided, another voice was heard.

“Mr. Chairman, I am Senator Mark Willingham of Virginia and I wish to be recognized.”

“This is irregular, Senator,” the chairman said, “but you are recognized.”

“Mr. Chairman,” Willingham shouted, “I wish to withdraw at this time from consideration for the Democratic nomination for president. And, further, I release all delegates pledged to me and urge them to cast their votes for the next president of the United States, Katharine Lee of Georgia!”

Pandemonium reigned. The chairman hammered for order without effect. Stone looked over at the New Mexico delegation and saw Pete Otero standing on a chair, keeping his balance by hanging on to Ed Eagle’s shoulder. “Mr. Chairman!” he was yelling. “Mr. Chairman!”

Finally regaining some order, the chairman pointed at Otero. “The chair recognizes the governor of the great state of New Mexico, Pete Otero!”

“Mr. Chairman,” Otero yelled, “I move that the convention nominate by acclamation as its nominee for president, Katharine Lee of Georgia!”

A huge affirmative roar from the audience.

The chairman hammered again. “The chair recognizes Senator Mark Willingham of the great state of Virginia!”

Willingham grabbed a microphone and yelled, “Mr. Chairman, I second Governor Otero’s motion!”

“All in favor, holler!” the chairman shouted.

And the crowd hollered for a full seven minutes.

Chapter 32