Game Day

WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of protestors, mostly women, descended on the Marriott Wardman in Woodley Park this morning for a meeting of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee. The group's decision could effectively spell the end of the road for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.

Outside, protestors are holding signs urging that that the will of voters from FL and MI is fully represented at the party's convention in Denver. Clinton's camp needs the full delegations seated, in large measure to bolster her argument to the remaining uncommitted superdelegates that she's won the popular vote across the states' primaries and caucuses. General consensus, though, is that's unlikely to happen -- a 50% ruling is more likely.

Committee members are seated at a U-shaped table in a medium-sized ballroom, while reporters are watching the proceedings from a balcony. The meeting is being broadcast live on C-SPAN, MSNBC and CNN.

"This is probably the largest Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting we've ever had," said Alexis M. Herman, the committee's co-chair said at the meeting's outset. "Usually, we're applauding if our members are in full force."

Jim Roosevelt, Jr., Herman's co-chair, took roll. Only IA's Sarah Swisher, whose daughter is getting married today, was absent; she gave her proxy to NH's Martha Fuller Clark.

"We definitely have a quorum," Roosevelt assured the group. "... I know we are all committed and ready to work to take back the White House in November."

(JENNIFER SKALKA)