Superdelegate Says Obama Appeals to All Voters

jean lemire dahlman, a rancher in montana, tells raw story magazine that obama has the "white working class" vote in montana. (and raw story rightly uses quotes around "white working class") dahlman had already endorsed him a while ago but this is why:

“When you’re in college and you read Plato’s Philosopher King, you think, yeah, that’s what I want in a leader; someone who can lead and unite us and I’m not sure Hillary can," Dahlman said. "She’s smart. She’s capable, but I don’t think she can unite us and that’s why I’m giving Barack Obama my superdelegate vote."

Dahlman said, "When I told the Obama campaign back in April that I would endorse him, I wasn't sure if it was or it wasn't distributed. I didn't read any newspaper stories about it or see it on the news websites and we don't have a television."

The Dahlmans live on a sprawling ranch outside the rural town of Forsyth in a village called Rosebud. Tucked away in the southeastern part of Montana near the Wyoming border and the Yellowstone River, Rosebud is not far from where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer camped before his ultimate defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Dahlman is predicting a similar defeat for Sen. Clinton should she stay in the race by the time Montana Democrats vote in the last primary of the season June 3.

"There's no 'white working voter' problem for Barack here," Dahlman continued. "Yesterday, I was at the post office and I asked a retired welder - a union guy - if he was going to Billings tomorrow to see Bill [Clinton] and he said he didn't think he should since he's going to vote for Barack. And another guy - a young electrician - told me that he's supporting Barack and working hard for him. The people I see on the street are all white and they have no problem voting for a man whose father is black. It's what he stands for - he's authentic, he isn't pandering and he's telling us the truth - that's why people here are voting for him and that's why he'll win Montana."

There are 8 Montana superdelegates. Two have already endorsed Obama and Ms. Dahlman's vote brings his total to three. None has yet endorsed Sen. Clinton.

"I care about health care insurance, the economy, and the war in Iraq and I also want a person who is unafraid to go against the grain, even when it's unpopular," Dahlman added. "I don't give a dime about [Sen. Clinton] gas roll-back plan. It's not going to do us any good in the long run and when Obama came out against that - that's what I'm looking for. Nonsense issues like the gas roll-back or wearing an American flag pin on your lapel. He [Barack] keeps tells the people the truth."

obama gets an add-on super today: kristi cumming of utah.

demconwatch: Utah selected it's add-on superdelegate last night: Kristi Cumming. We know that Utah Chairman Wayne Holland, an Obama supporter, had previously announced that the add-on would be an Obama supporter, and we have received confirmation from the Utah Democratic Party that Cumming will be supporting Obama.

two more add-ons are being selected for massachussets today and two more for ohio. what's an add-on?

Obama's Superdelegate Roundup May 9

update: nyt says obama is ahead in supers, according to their counts.
obama needs two more superdelegates to surpass hillary.
this list is by demconwatch, the super superdelegate watcher:
Switched Rep. Donald Payne (NJ) from Clinton to Obama
Added Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR)
Added DNC John Gage (MD)
Added DNC Edward Espinoza (CA) (aka Mr. Super)
Added DNC Vernon Watkins (CA)
Added DNC Wilbur Lee Jeffcoat (SC)
Added New Mexico add-on Laurie Weahkee (NM)
Added Rep. Mazie Hirono (HI)

Today, Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, the Democratic Party Vice Chair in South Carolina and Democratic superdelegate endorsed Barack Obama. In endorsing Barack, Jeffcoat explained:

Barack Obama inspired thousands of new voters in my state of South Carolina to get involved in our democratic process and I am proud to announce my endorsement today. With Barack Obama as our nominee, we can bring more and more new voters out to become involved and have their voices heard. Obama has worked his whole life to unite people from all backgrounds and walks of life for change, he has done that in this campaign and he will continue to do that as President. I am excited to join his campaign today.

That's because Laurie Weahkee, New Mexico's newest -- and most coveted -- superdelegate, just threw her support behind Obama.

"After the primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina, it is now absolutely clear that Barack Obama will be our nominee," Weahkee, lead organizer for the Native American Voters Alliance, writes in a statement e-mailed to the Independent. She adds, "Obama has proven that he can campaign in a difficult environment and still inspire thousands of new voices to take part in the democratic process."

Weahkee also had good things to say about Hillary Clinton -- "I’d like to recognize Senator Clinton for her many years of service to this country, and for laying the groundwork for women across this country to run for office" -- but in the end that wasn't enough to push the long-time New Mexico activist into her corner.

With Weahkee now a committed Obama vote, that leaves U.S. Rep. Tom Udall as the only Democratic superdelegate from New Mexico who remains neutral in the race. Clinton won the popular vote in New Mexico on Feb. 5 by a slim margin just north of 1,000 votes -- the closest presidential primary or caucus anywhere in the country except Guam. As a result, she netted 14 of the state's 26 pledged delegates. On the New Mexico superdelegate front, Clinton now leads by a margin of six to five.

Weahkee, a 42-year-old Cochiti and Zuni Pueblo member, was elected to be superdelegate amid some controversy on April 26. Since then she's kept mum on coming to a decision. But in an exclusive interview with the Independent, Weahkee explains how she made up her mind.

Chicago, IL – Today, California DNC Member and superdelegate Ed Espinoza endorsed Barack Obama, citing his judgment, character, and ability to unite our country for change.

Espinoza is the 268th superdelegate to endorse Barack Obama. Obama is 163 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Espinoza said, “I am endorsing Barack Obama today because throughout this process I have seen him show a judgment and character that we need in our next president. From day one he opposed the Iraq war and has a plan to end the war in a responsible way and bring our sons and daughters home. He has shown he has the character to lead our great nation, from his choice to spend his career serving people in the poorest communities in Chicago to his commitment to speaking truth to the American people, even when it isn’t politically convenient to do so. To unify the country at this time in our history we need a president who has these qualities, and that is why I am proud to endorse him today. My good friend Bill Richardson, who backed Obama some weeks ago, knows what it takes to lead and I trust his judgment in this decision as well. I look forward to working with this great movement to bring victory in November.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American Federation of Government Employees endorsed Barack Obama Friday, giving the Illinois senator fresh momentum toward capturing the Democratic nomination for president.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," AFGE President John Gage said.

Gage, a previously uncommitted superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he is also personally endorsing Obama.

Obama, the Democratic front-runner, is vying with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for the party's presidential nomination. His candidacy has been picking up momentum since Tuesday, when he handily won the North Carolina primary and held Clinton to a narrow victory in Indiana.

While calling Clinton a friend and saying she has worked hard for federal employees, Gage said some members of AFGE's board also think having Obama as the Democratic nominee would help the Democratic slate as a whole. Obama will do better in "bringing along some of the downticket races," Gage said.

Who Cares About Clinton's Iraq Plan

she lost me a long time ago.
here is obama's iraq plan.
note that today, obama picked up one more superdelegate (see my sidebar for the name), which brings obama's count up to 16 since march 3. clinton is sputtering with 1 defection, 6 gains since march 3.
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