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Jockeying for Position

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Along with many of our local lawmakers, the Hahn-Villaraigosa rivalry has been transported to Boston this week. Both the Los Angeles mayoral gig and convention stage time are highly sought-after, and so far Villaraigosa is in the lead — by one minute. (LAist previously discussed the attention given to L.A. mayoral wannabes at the DNC.) Villaraigosa’s connections to presidential hopeful John Kerry and his position as co-chairman of the Democratic Party platform committee nabbed Antonio four minutes compared to Hahn’s three. Villaraigosa also got to address an attentive audience that wasn’t yet fatigued by the nonstop parade of mid-level speakers. Based on responses quoted in the L.A. Times today, California delegates were inattentive and generally underwhelmed by Hahn’s Wednesday address.

When the pomp back East is over, Mayor Hahn (along with the throng of challengers eager to unseat him) can resume the usual political bustle in advance of next year's race.

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