The bottom line is the AVMA did NOT want an anti declaw vet elected as "America's Favorite Veterinarian".
AVMA is supported by vets, vets who declaw. Those vets do not want to stop declawing ($$$)and if the AVMA took an active stance against declawing those vets would stop paying those dues.
If an anti-declaw vet was shown to be America's Favorite Vet, and that vet continued to work against declawing, that would put the AVMA in a very bad light.
Actually what they have done has put them in a very bad light, so they did not succeed in their smear campaign against the Paw Project and Anti-declaw activists.
I would have preferred the contest be allowed to continue and Dr Richter be in a position to spread the education. But this way will work toward our favor anyway, I do believe.