Booker Chosen To Help Draft Dems Platform

Cory Booker is not on the outs with national Democrats after all as he has been selected to help draft the Democrats national platform.

National Journal reports that the Newark Mayor will be among 15 members of the Platform Drafting Committee including Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank and former Reps. Tony Coehlo, D-Calif., and Robert Wexler, D-Fla. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is serving as a nonvoting member of the committee. Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is the Committee's chairman.

The Committee  will meet in July 27-29 in Minneapolis, where members of the public can pitch their suggestions to the panel. The DNC has launched a website for entries to be submitted until July 20.

The Democrats hold their national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina beginning September 3.

IN THE DEMOCRAT DOG HOUSE

Booker was thought to be in the Democrat dog house following a bungled appearance on Meet The Press in which Booker said he found attack ads from both candidates “nauseating” and called them a “distraction from the real issues.”

Later that day Booker released a YouTube video in which he said it is “reasonable” for the Obama campaign to examine Romney’s business record since Romney himself has made it “a centerpiece of his campaign.” Booker says his earlier remarks were intended to express his “profound frustration” with negative campaigning. And he reiterated that he believes Obama “more than deserves re-election.”

OUT  OF STATE 119 DAYS

Meanwhile, while New Jersey Democrats like to bring attention to Governor Chris Christie's time spent out of state, the Star Ledger in Sunday's edition points out that Booker has been out of state 119 days since January 1, 2011.

A heavy user of Twitter, Booker has "mastered the art of having a presence without being present," according to the article, which cites examples of how he has Tweeted and emailed from his trips.