Opinion: Hillary Clinton’s dropout speech will be missing some N.Y. fans

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The theatrics of Hillary Clinton’s exit from the Democratic presidential race has proved nettlesome, exemplified by the scheduling of her concession speech. On Wednesday evening, her camp announced it would take place Friday in Washington; then, in quick order, it was changed to Saturday.

The reason, according to a statement, was ‘to accommodate more of Sen. Clinton’s supporters who want to attend.’

Turns out, though, the shift to Saturday has inconvenienced a group of bedrock Clinton backers -- House members from her homestate of New York.

Newsday’s Glenn Thrush reports that ‘the vast majority’ of the lawmakers ‘will be skipping her Saturday drop-out announcement in Washington –- citing reasons ranging from town halls back in their districts to campaign obligations to the observation of the Jewish sabbath.’

To compensate, several of the New Yorkers gathered for a new conference earlier today outside the Capitol to discuss the final act in the Democratic battle; Thrush’s posting on it can be read here. Also available is video of the inimitable Charles Rangel, a veteran congressman from Harlem, presiding at the event (and periodically kvetching about the heat).

-- Don Frederick