Hillary Clinton to miss convention of liberal activists, bloggers

ST. LOUIS — Hillary Rodham Clinton is not expected to appear at Netroots Nation, an annual convention of liberal activists and bloggers who are often courted by Democratic presidential candidates.

Event organizers say Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley have confirmed to appear at the mid-July conference in Phoenix.

Clinton's campaign is citing a scheduling conflict, saying Clinton is set to speak in Iowa and Arkansas that weekend.

About 3,000 activists are planning to attend the convention, which will also feature Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Many liberals had hoped she would challenge Clinton for the nomination.

Raven Brooks, Netroots Nation's executive director, said the conference is hopeful the Clinton campaign "will reconsider addressing this core progressive community who are most eager to hear from her."

Clinton last appeared at Netroots Nation in 2007 — then called Year Kos — at a presidential forum that also included then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and others.

She received a tepid response from activists, some of whom disapproved of her vote in favor of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and her acceptance of campaign contributions from lobbyists.

Reader poll

Which Democratic presidential candidate would you most likely choose in 2016?

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton 56%
  • Bernie Sanders 27%
  • Lincoln Chafee 8%
  • Martin O'Malley 9%

255 total votes.

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