FLATWOODS, Ky. (WSAZ) -- With the Democratic National Convention just a week away, there are some local delegates who say a Barack Obama nomination is far from official, including Tyler Murphy.
Murphy -- in a bedroom that looks like a squared oval office, at the ripe old age of 20, a die-hard Democrat and a staunch Bill and Hillary Clinton supporter since he was 8 -- has hit a thin patch.
In a formal rules challenge, Murphy and two dozen fellow Kentucky delegates complain that with too many Kentucky men picked under required gender equity, the state Democratic Party replaced pledged Hillary Clinton supporter Todd Hollenbach -- not with a required female Clinton supporter -- but with state representative and Obama activist Ruth Ann Palumbo.
The rule challenge also charges the state party asked Delegate Jeff Harney to resign due to his sexual preference.
"He's a good man (who has) worked for the party, but he is an openly gay male," Murphy said.
The Kentucky Democratic Party response is that each replacement delegate is pledged to Clinton. Murphy said he's one of many national Clinton supporting delegates not conceding anything yet.
"I feel the Democratic Party leadership has failed the rank and file," he said. "As a delegate, I'll be voting for Hillary Clinton."
Murphy said he has nothing but respect for Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Jennifer Moore. But he also feels the early Democratic state caucuses were skewed to Obama, and the Florida and Michigan primary outcomes were unfair to Clinton. Murphy also said there are many Democratic delegates like him across the U.S. who may not be standing hand-in-hand supporting Obama after the last ballot.