Superdelegate Rick Larsen Endorses Obama

ap: WASHINGTON -- Rep. Rick Larsen said Thursday that he is endorsing Barack Obama for president.

Larsen, a four-term Democrat who represents Everett, Bellingham and other areas north of Seattle, said Obama was "the best candidate to turn our best hopes for a better future into reality."

Obama's performance this week in primaries in North Carolina and Indiana show "he can take a pounding and come back strong to deliver his message of hope and change. He is tough as nails," Larsen said.

Superdelegate Kalyn Free Endorses Obama

CHICAGO, IL -- Kalyn Free, an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, today announced that she supports Illinois Senator Barack Obama for the party’s presidential nomination. As a DNC member, Free will serve as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. Free is also founder and President of INDN’s List, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training American Indian candidates.

This brings the total number of superdelegates to endorse Barack Obama to 258. Senator Obama is 276 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Free said she was excited to see two qualified candidates emerge from the field of Democratic contenders.

“Today, I am casting my support for a new kind of leadership and a new possibility of what America can be. Barack Obama is a once-in-a-generation kind of leader and the best hope the American people have to rebuild the erosion our collective foundation has endured the last eight years. In 2008, we must elect a President who will restore our faith in the possibilities of each and every American, including the First Americans.

“As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, I am proud of what it means to be an American Indian. I am proud Barack Obama is committed to our unique issues and willing to tackle our toughest problems, from historical inequities and injustices to contemporary issues, like protection of our right to tribal self-determination, access to health care for our elders, and education for our children. Despite the threats that have faced our culture and our people, hope has lifted Indian people through the most difficult times. Because we remain connected to our past, our culture and our communities, we never gave up that hope. American Indians need not just progressive ideas but new and visionary leadership that inspire us to build a better future for all Americans. No President alone can rebuild the American public after eight years of George Bush’s disastrous policies and poisonous politics. I support Senator Obama because I believe the only way to rebuild America is to rebuild what makes us great – the hope and drive of the American people.

“Senator Obama is committed to bringing American Indians into the national discussion and into the political process as voters, organizers, and leaders. He will start a two-way dialogue with Tribes by coming to Indian Country to seek solutions for our unique issues and by bringing Indians into his administration.

“For centuries the First Americans have had politicians talk to them, not with them. That kind of politics-as-usual leadership hasn’t worked for Indian Country, and it isn’t working for America. Senator Obama will forge a new era for the First Americans by looking for answers in Indian Country, not from Washington lobbyists.

“I am proud to stand in solidarity with another DNC Indian superdelegates Frank LaMere (Winnebago) in support of America’s best hope for a better tomorrow, Senator Barack Obama.”

Senator Obama said, “Kalyn is an effective and compassionate leader in the Native American community, and I’m proud to have her support. I admire the work she has done to build a grassroots movement, elect Native Americans to public office, and mobilize voters in tribal communities to become part of the political process. And as President, I will work with tribal leaders and Kalyn to ensure that they have a true partner in the White House. With Kalyn’s support, we’re going to bring about real change not just for the Native American community, but for all Americans.”

A Hillraiser Superdelegate Defects To Obama

let it be over, the quicker the better. right on.

cnn: A “Hillraiser” – a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton – said Friday he had defected to Barack Obama’s campaign. The official announcement will be made next week.

Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon – who served as ambassador to Chile during the Clinton administration – had raised close to half a million dollars for Clinton’s campaign, reports Chuck Todd, who broke the story.

"We're just bleeding each other out," Guerra-Mondragon told the Washington Post. "Looking at it as coldly as I can, I just don't see how Senator Clinton can overcome Senator Obama with delegates and popular votes. I want this fight to be over, the quicker the better."

Obama Gets 43 Mayors and Superdelegate

obama has big-time support in north carolina, 43 mayors.
north carolina is like fresh air after pennsylvania. i wonder if hillary's summer cottage spot in scranton has been enshrined.
obama also gets the support of congressman david wu, superdelegate of oregon. that makes three supers to hillary's one since pennsylvania.

In a sign of Senator Obama’s broad, statewide organization, the Obama campaign today announced the endorsement of 43 North Carolina mayors, mayors pro tem, and former mayors, representing cities large and small, from Raleigh to Roper. To encourage North Carolinians to vote early, more than a dozen of these mayors will be voting early today at 1 p.m. at their local One Stop Early Voting locations.

"As a mayor, I’m on the front lines of local economic development," said Mayor Bill Bell of Durham. "We need a president who will work with us to solve the problems we face, help working Americans succeed, and usher in a new era of prosperity."

“I’m honored to have the support of so many mayors from across North Carolina who are committed to working hard to change America,” said Senator Obama. “These mayors understand what leadership is, and how important it is to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to make change happen for our working families and our communities. Their support is incredibly important to this campaign – and I look forward to working with them to build a stronger economy where Main Street thrives, not just Wall Street.”

FULL LIST OF MAYORS ENDORSING SENATOR OBAMA

Terry Bellamy, Mayor, Asheville
Leni Sinick, Former Mayor, Asheville
Linda Blackburn, Mayor, Ahoskie
Frank Wilson, Mayor, Bolton
Loretta Clawson, Mayor, Boone
Kevin Foy, Mayor, Chapel Hill
Mark Chilton, Mayor, Carrboro
Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor, Cary
Harvey Gantt, Former Mayor, Charlotte
Linda Ingram, Mayor, Conetoe
Darryl Moss, Mayor, Creedmoor
Malcolm Johnson, Mayor, Dover
N. Carnell Robinson, Mayor Pro Tem, Dunn
William Bell, Mayor, Durham
Cora McFadden, Mayor Pro Tem, Durham
Perry Blanks, Mayor, East Arcadia
Warnie Bishop, Mayor, Enfield
Roy Bell, Mayor, Garysburg
Yvonne Johnson, Mayor, Greensboro
Keith Holiday, Former Mayor, Greensboro
Mildred Council, Mayor Pro Tem, Greenville
Horace Reid, Mayor Pro Tem, Hertford
Matthew Block, Mayor, Laurinburg
Phil Bazemore, Mayor Pro Tem, Monroe
Eulis Willis, Mayor, Navassa
Lewis Brown, Former Mayor, Navassa
Jerry Merrick, Mayor Pro Tem, Navassa
James Knox, Mayor, Northwest
Randolph Voller, Mayor, Pittsboro
Charles Meeker, Mayor, Raleigh
James West, former Mayor Pro Tem, Raleigh
Estelle Sanders, Mayor, Roper
Perry Dixon, Mayor, Sandyfield
James Mill Sr., Mayor, Scotland Neck
Melvin Broadnax, Mayor, Seabord
Howard Morgan, Mayor, Sedalia
Wilbert Harrison, Mayor, Speed
Ethel Clark, Mayor, Spring Lake
Donald Davis, Mayor, Snow Hill
Betty Gholston, Mayor, Wagram
George Draper Jr., Mayor, Weldon
Robert Spivey, Mayor, Windsor
Vivian Burke, Mayor Pro Tem, Winston-Salem
Carl Lee Sr., Mayor, Lewiston Woodville

Today U.S. Congressman David Wu from Oregon announced his support for Senator Barack Obama for president, citing his ability to make real change:
"I think we are blessed to have two strong candidates for president," Congressman David Wu said. "I am endorsing Barack Obama for president today because I believe that he is best suited to turn the page on this sorry episode in American history. He and I both had the judgment to oppose the Iraq War from the very beginning.

"Every dollar that we have spent in Iraq—which adds up to over $500 billion so far—is a dollar not spent at home, a school not built, a bridge not repaired," continued Wu. "We need new policies both at home and abroad. Like Americans, the international community wants to see real change in America and I believe that Senator Obama embodies that change."

“I thank Congressman Wu for his support, and look forward to working with him to bring this war in Iraq to an end, strengthening our economy and addressing the issue of climate change,” said Senator Barack Obama.

Congressman Wu is in his fifth term representing Oregon’s First Congressional District.

Wu is Senator Obama’s 240th Superdelegate endorsement. Senator Obama is now 291 delegates away from winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

Oklahoma Governor Endorses Obama

another superdelegate for obama

Chicago, IL – Today, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry endorsed Barack Obama for President, citing his ability to reach across party lines to bring change that matters to American families.

Governor Brad Henry said, “Today, I am proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States and pledge to him my support as a superdelegate. I believe Senator Obama is uniquely positioned to unite our nation and move beyond the divisiveness and partisan skirmishes that too often characterize politics as usual in Washington.

“As governor of the great State of Oklahoma, I have worked hard to reject the politics of old and to build a consensus across party lines on issues vitally important to all citizens, such as building a world-class education system, making healthcare more accessible and affordable, and creating high-paying jobs to strengthen our economy and help our children at home. That is why I am so enthusiastic about Barack Obama’s candidacy. Senator Obama understands that the serious concerns facing average Americans must transcend partisan games if we are to rise to the challenges of today and tomorrow. He is a strong, committed and inspirational leader, ideally suited to bring together Democrats, Independents and Republicans.



“Senator Obama and his positive message reflect the best of America. He is strong but compassionate. He is resolute but recognizes that no single group or party has a monopoly on good ideas. He will be a leader for all Americans, and I have every confidence that he will be a tremendous President.”

Senator Obama said, "I am proud to have Governor Henry's support today as we continue to build our grassroots movement for change. Governor Henry has spent nearly twenty years serving the people of Oklahoma and has achieved real results by reaching across the aisle to tackle the state's big challenges. From health care to education to the budget, Governor Henry has brought Republicans, Democrats, and Independents together to reach consensus and make a difference in the lives of Oklahoma's families. We're fortunate to have Governor Henry’s backing, and I look forward to working with him in the months ahead to bring about real change not just for Oklahomans, but all Americans."

Minnesota Superdelegate Endorses Obama

ap: One of Minnesota's last uncommitted Democratic superdelegates is backing Barack Obama, the Obama campaign announced Sunday.

Nancy Larson, of Dassel, a Democratic National Committee member, told The Associated Press she decided to support Obama because his campaign will bring new people into the political process, and she believes he has the best chance of winning in November.

"It's looking more and more that the one person who can do it is Barack Obama," Larson said.

superdelegate endorsement list

Clinton Could Fail Superdelegate Math

at the end of all the contests, obama will need 122 superdelegates and clinton will need 229. here's an analysis at real clear politics.

RCP: For this calculation, I assumed that Hillary Clinton would win 60 percent of the delegates from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico, Barack Obama would win 60 percent of the delegates from North Carolina, Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota, and that Indiana's delegates would be split evenly between Clinton and Obama. I also allocated a small number of remaining delegates from earlier primaries and caucuses based on the overall results in those states. Since Democrats in Michigan and Florida have now decided not to hold do-over primaries, I did not include these states in my calculations.

more:

It turns out that there is a fairly strong relationship between the preferences of superdelegates who have endorsed a candidate and the preferences of the voters in their states: 72 percent of superdelegates from Clinton states are supporting Clinton while 63 percent of superdelegates from Obama states are supporting Obama. Clinton is doing slightly better at winning superdelegates from her states than Obama is doing at winning superdelegates from his states. But this may be largely a result of the head start that she had in lining up support from superdelegates because of her early lead in the national polls and her longstanding ties to Democratic leaders. In recent weeks, Obama has been narrowing Clinton's lead among superdelegates, and most of his gains have occurred among superdelegates from states that he carried in the primaries and caucuses.

Based on the pattern of superdelegates supporting the candidate who won the primary or caucus in their state and assigning the remaining primary states to the candidate they are generally expected to support, we can determine how Clinton and Obama are likely to fare among the remaining uncommitted superdelegates.

Even if she is able to maintain her previous rate of success in winning the support of superdelegates from Clinton and Obama states, Hillary Clinton would only be expected to garner the support of 53 percent of the remaining undeclared superdelegates, far short of the 66 percent she would need to overcome an Obama lead of 107 delegates. These results indicate that unless Hillary Clinton can dramatically reduce her current deficit in pledged delegates in the remaining primaries, her chances of gaining enough support among uncommitted superdelegates to win the nomination are minimal.

Superdelegate Amy Klobuchar Endorses Obama

this makes 20 since march 4 for obama and 9 for clinton.

AP: Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar Sunday night, giving him another superdelegate supporter.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Klobuchar said Obama "has inspired an enthusiasm and idealism that we have not seen in this country in a long time."

Klobuchar, a freshman Democrat, said Obama speaks "with a different voice, bringing a new perspective and inspiring a real excitement from the American people." She compared him to the late Hubert Humphrey, who served as a senator from Minnesota and as vice president.

Obama carried Minnesota by a large margin over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton last month.

"My endorsement reflects both Barack's strong support in my state and my own independent judgment about his abilities," Klobuchar said.

She cited their work together on issues such as ethics reform and toy safety.

"Barack has been a proven agent for change and advocate for middle-class Americans," Klobuchar said.

bill clinton courted supers yesterday at the california convention.
the clintons' harold ickes' drive to dig up supers

One Fair Superdelegate

of all that i've read about superdelegates, this one is fair.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a San Jose Democrat who will attend the state convention, says superdelegates should back the leader in delegates and popular votes. Lofgren has endorsed Obama, but said she would back Clinton if she took the lead in June.

"The speaker has maintained a scrupulous neutrality" between Obama and Clinton, Lofgren said, and that enhances Pelosi's influence if she and other party leaders need to step in later.

On the Minds of Superdelegates 1

On the Minds of Superdelegates 2

On the Minds of Superdelegates 3

On the Minds of Superdelegates 4

On the Minds of Superdelegates 5

On the Minds of Superdelegates 6

On the Minds of Superdelegates 7

On the Minds of Superdelegates 8

On the Minds of Superdelegates 9

this is my 9th in the series "what's on the minds of superdelegates?"
it's important to know who these people are and what they're thinking because they WILL decide who the nominee will be. will they be fair?
this super is super and isn't falling for all the media garbage:

Uncommitted superdelegate Jay Parmley, former head of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, says race relations are important but that it won't affect his vote at the convention. "I do not for a minute believe that he agrees with the comments his pastor made. [So] that's not going to tip me one way or the other," he said.

clinton's got a lot of convincing to do says this super:

Superdelegates say they are listening. But the cold, hard numbers facing Clinton are daunting.

"If you're a superdelegate, why would you do anything else but follow the will of the people?" said U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, an uncommitted superdelegate from Pennsylvania who has fielded five calls from Sen. Clinton or her husband in the past couple of weeks.

"Clinton's argument is superdelegates are experienced, and you're supposed to exercise your judgment. But boy, it's going to be really difficult for me, if Obama's ahead on all other counts, to go the other way."

wait and see for this one:

Jon Ausman, an uncommitted Democratic National Committee member from Tallahassee, said he thinks many superdelegates will wait until the last minute because of lingering doubts about who is the stronger candidate.

To him the most important consideration is who will help Democrats win more congressional and state legislative seats, and that seems to be Obama. But Ausman is sympathetic to Clinton's arguments.

"I really don't know what I'm going to do on this one,'' said Ausman, who will be one of Florida's 26 superdelegates if the state's delegation is seated in Denver. "I don't want to get into buyer's remorse as with John Kerry, when all of a sudden he's getting Swiftboated and he's gone."

more wait and see:

"I, as a lot of people, certainly have been tuned into all the controversy about Obama's minister, and you hear the delegates talking about it, and you hear both sides — it'll blow over, no it won't blow over, it's too big a thing, and so on and so forth," said Muriel K. Offerman, a DNC member and uncommitted superdelegate from Cary, N.C., who heard from Sen. Clinton last week.

"I don't know that it's changed much. And Obama came back with a very strong statement. It's a few weeks yet, so who knows what else might come up."

Clinton will find it much easier to make her case to the superdelegates if she manages to narrow Obama's lead in total votes and pledged delegates, which are allocated according to the results of primaries and caucuses.

Among pledged delegates, Obama leads Clinton by 168, but his lead drops to 121 when committed superdelegates are factored in, according to the Associated Press. A total of 2,024 delegates are needed to win the nomination.

"I can't imagine if there's a 150-delegate lead (for Obama) that the superdelegates are going to break so strongly for Clinton that Clinton would be the nominee," said U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., an uncommitted superdelegate. "If it's 25 to 50, that's essentially a tie — that means they went through the whole process, and came out with a tie.

"And who knows what the public perceptions will be at that point, what the polling will be, what more we will have learned about the candidates."

how indiana's supers are feeling:

Northwest Indiana has three such superdelegates, who may vote for whomever they chose when the party meets in Denver: Former East Chicago mayor and longtime Democratic National Committee member Robert A. Pastrick, and U.S. Reps. Pete Visclosky and Joe Donnelly.

Pastrick, who has been accorded superdelegate status for two decades, received daily calls and e-mails at his Mexican vacation home from candidates seeking his support -- the first time he can recall anyone asking outside the convention floor in 30 years.

"It's been pretty constant," said Pastrick on Friday, after returning from a Thursday campaign rally for Clinton in Anderson. "Usually, Indiana's primary is so late, it doesn't matter. And superdelegates aren't often a factor."

Pastrick gives no indication to the media or Obama supporters that he is wavering in his support of Clinton, whom he endorsed shortly after she announced her candidacy.
Visclosky said he is "firmly, completely, absolutely uncommitted," and hasn't even attended a party convention since 1992. As a result, he has been courted aggressively, if cordially, by both camps. Asked if this spring is an interesting time to be a superdelegate, Visclosky admitted: "It's an interesting phenomenon that my sparkling personality has finally taken hold."

"I am being contacted by the campaigns, and surrogates, friends and acquaintances. No one is engaging in any hard sell. I would describe it as touching gloves," he said.

Donnelly, in an e-mail response to questions from the Post-Tribune, offered the following:

"Ultimately, I will support whomever I think would best serve our country as president.

"In reaching that decision, I will take into consideration a number of factors including, but not limited to, the pledged delegate count, the popular vote, how the respective nominees fared in Indiana and the 2nd District and where each stands on issues of importance to north central Indiana.

"More than anything, I'm pleased that Indiana will have a say in choosing the Democratic Party's presidential nominee."

Since super-delegates' endorsement isn't really binding until they vote in August, will the region's three superdelegates consider the results of the May 6 primary when they make their choice?

Party rules may dictate they can vote on their own, but a popular vote determines the rest and many have argued the only democratic way forward for the Democrats is for superdelegates to vote with their constituents.

Visclosky will continue to weigh his options and is listening closely to the candidates' evolving stances on the Iraq War and the economy.

"I do reserve the right to make my own informed judgment," Visclosky said.

And Pastrick will keep his own counsel as well, it would appear.

"I feel I'd have to do what the state really feels ... there's a lot of considerations there," he said. "I don't think you can cross that bridge until you come to it."

Q&A with super who floated the idea of a superdelegate primary of sorts:

Q: So as a superdelegate, you have suggested a very interesting plan which would involve the superdelegates having their own convention. How would that work?
Bredesen: Well, my concern is that we're going to get to the point of the convention having wasted the summer, having a very divisive convention, and trying to go into the election with a divided party and two months to go. At that point, after the primaries are over on June 3, there is really nothing left but the superdelegates. And what I'm saying is that they need to step up -- I'm one of them -- act our age and make a choice, and let the party get on with it. I think the way to do that and make it happen is to actually call them together -- not in a convention with all the hoopla and the sideshows and so on -- but in a businesslike meeting somewhere they can get to over a weekend, and maybe hear from the candidates and get people on the record. Let's get a nominee and move on, and concentrate on winning this election.
Q: By doing that, wouldn't those superdelegates be acting on their own judgment rather than on the popular votes or the number of delegates?
Bredesen: I don't think so. First of all, I absolutely believe that superdelegates are designed to exercise some independent judgment, and certainly the popular vote across the country and in their own states is one of the elements that would enter into that judgment. But come June 3, the rest of that is a done deal. You know what the popular vote is at that point, you know what the delegate counts are at that point. My point is that at that point you have all the information you're going to have.
Q: Senator [Barack] Obama is slipping in the polls now, the national polls. Do you think that, as some [Hillary] Clinton supporters are saying today, that this is an indication that he might be vulnerable in the general election because of the controversy over Reverend [Jeremiah] Wright?
Bredesen: Well, look, the controversy over Reverend Wright, anyone can see, has not helped him. I think there is no question it has hurt him. But this is a process that has been going on for over a year. There have been ups and downs in the polls before –- the issue du jour, the issue of the week and so on. I think he's the recipient of the negative headlines this week, but I think that stuff will go up and down. I think the premium and the benefit of having a nominee and starting to heal the wounds and close ranks in June really outweighs any little tiny bit of additional information you'd get by going through the whole summer. I want to win this election.
Q: So what criteria are you using right now as you try to make up your own mind?
Bredesen: I think, from my standpoint, I'm genuinely undecided. I'm interested in, first of all, what people in my state think. Senator Clinton won the state fairly handily. I'm also interested, as you come in later, in what's happening nationally and, obviously, at the moment, Senator Obama is ahead in the popular vote nationally. I really think just trying to make a good choice and find the right, electable person is something that the superdelegates -- that is what it was designed for. If it had been simply to parrot what went on in your state, they wouldn't be superdelegates. They would be pledged delegates based on the vote totals in the state.
In my case, Obama is ahead nationally and Hillary Clinton won Tennessee -- what's the popular vote for me? We have a number of unpledged superdelegates. Is it a winner-take-all? Are all of them supposed to go with the popular vote winner, or are we supposed to divide ourselves up like the rest of the delegates? I think it really was intended, for better or for worse, that we exercise some independent judgment here.

Q: And finally, back to this controversy that has seemed to affect Obama's standing in the national polls. Do you think, that this Reverend Wright issue -- yourself as a superdelegate looking at this -- has raised questions about whether he can win a general election?
Bredesen: I think it certainly -- I can speak for Tennessee -- it certainly has not been a positive in Tennessee. It has raised some questions in Tennessee. It is difficult to know -- we're in the first week of any sort of discussion of this and, believe me, anybody in politics knows that things can change dramatically over the course of days and weeks and certainly months. So I don't know how it will all play out. It has not been a good week for him. Mrs. Clinton has also had some weeks that were not good for her, and will probably have more for each of them before this is all over.

montana super holding onto his vote:

Former U.S. Sen. John Melcher says he is keeping his key superdelegate vote neutral in the race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Melcher is 1 of 8 such delegates in Montana who can vote for whichever presidential candidate they choose. Others include Gov. Brian Schweitzer and U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester.

Melcher said Friday that he may decide to endorse someone before the primary season ends. Other Montana superdelegates have largely promised to wait until after the state's June 3 primary.

supers making money off the campaigns. i didn't know this could happen. does this mean they support the hand that feeds them?:

Because of their interest in politics, campaign officials have said it is not surprising that some might be involved in campaign work; the party has no rules prohibiting campaigns from paying superdelegates.

The firm owned by former Rhode Island Democratic state chairman and superdelegate Mark Weiner took in $678,000 from the Clinton campaign for supplying campaign products such as bumper stickers and yard signs. His firm, Financial Innovations, has been paid more than $1.5 million over the course of the campaign, according to the reports.

Factotum Productions, a Massachusetts business run by Clinton superdelegate Gus Bickford, was paid $8,000 in November for consulting that started the day he endorsed Clinton. Payments continued in February, to the tune of another $11,000. The campaign also made payments to Kathleen Healy, based at the same Westford, Mass., address as Factotum.

The Clinton campaign has paid the marketing firm run by a third superdelegate, Steve Grossman, about $3,000 for printing costs. The campaign owes the firm another $18,000, the FEC filing shows.

On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
On the Minds of Superdelegates 6
On the Minds of Superdelegates 7
On the Minds of Superdelegates 8

On the Minds of Superdelegates 8

new mexico governor bill richardson endorsed obama in a heartfelt speech today and with that obama has another superdelegate. that's 18 since march 3 for obama (see my sidebar) and 9 for clinton. obama leads in popular vote by 700,000 and states won, 30 to 14, and delgates by 155.
that takes care of that. now here is the 8th in my series of 'what's on the minds of superdelegates?'

superdelegates hold a lot of power and there is reason to be wary of them. many don't care about delegates, popular vote, who their districts voted for. many won't do the right thing. we need to know who they are.

two supers warn supers not to override delegates:

Nancy Pelosi's weekend warning to superdelegates not to vote differently than those elected in primaries was seconded today by former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, a superdelegate and former Democratic Party boss.

"The ultimate issue is who has the most delegates," Romer told reporters at a breakfast meeting today. He remains uncommitted, though he had favorable words for Sen. Barack Obama's recent speech on race and Obama's experience as a former state senator. While he said that he's open to a miniprimary in June among Democratic Party superdelegates, he predicted that the remaining primaries will deliver a delegate winner.

look out for these four guys:

Pennsylvania Rep. John P. Murtha's endorsement of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday marked her first big superdelegate pick-up since the March 4 primaries. But the biggest endorsement value of Murtha, whose Johnstown-based district won't yield many Democratic votes for either candidate, may be in the power he commands among a handful of acolytes in the state's delegation. He could play a pivotal role in bringing along more Clinton supporters among the all-important superdelegates.

Three other Pennsylvania Democrats who are devout Murtha supporters -- Reps. Robert Brady, Michael Doyle and Tim Holden -- have also been undeclared so far in the presidential campaign. Murtha's support for Clinton makes it possible all three superdelegates could line up behind the dean of their state delegation.

Brady is a local party boss in Philadelphia and Doyle a key player in Pittsburgh-area politics. Holden represents the exurbs of Philadelphia, stretching from Reading to parts of York.

clinton backer doesn't care about delegates:

In February, Steed's name appeared on Hillary Clinton's website as a part of 150 Maryland State Democratic leaders who endorsed her. He said his status as a Clinton superdelegate still "remains strong" and won't change.

Steed made his decision to support Hillary Clinton in late 2007. He chose her, he said, for "her depth of experience, her intelligence and for her ability to get things done that no other candidate running has exhibited, especially in the Senate."

Steed said his decision was informed by the "extraordinary efforts" Clinton has made to represent and to win the support of heavily Republican areas in upstate New York. He also cited the high opinion that several Pentagon generals and admirals have expressed to him about Clinton's thoughtfulness, focus and willingness to listen while serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Steed does not agree that the candidate with the most pledged delegates at the end of the primary season should be the eventual nominee.

"That's not how the system was set up," he said. He believes that the undecided delegates can certainly chose that as a personal criterion, but that each should make a "thoughtful, moral decision."

On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
On the Minds of Superdelegates 6
Context to Pastor Wright’s Sermon
Truth About Trinity

FoxAttacks.com Fights Fox

Meet Jason the 21 Year Old Superdelegate

too young to be a superdelegate? nah. but jason's age brings up the question, just how do you get to be a super anyway. i'll look into that.

Meet Jason Rae. He's 21, a junior at Marquette University, loves Netflix and college basketball. And along with President Clinton and Governor Rendell, he'll be casting his vote as a superdelegate at the Democratic National Convention this August.

Yes, you read that correctly - he's a 21-year-old superdelegate, the youngest of them all, and his vote will be equal in value to that of some 15,000 average-Joe voters like you and me.

Superdelegates - for those who haven't caught wind of the media maelstrom - are the 795 "unpledged" delegates to the nominating convention who'll make their own independent decisions about whom to support. The remaining 3,253 delegates are "pledged," their votes dictated by the results of each state's primary or caucus.

Because of the nail-biting closeness of this year's Democratic primary race, superdelegates will play a larger role than ever before in determining the nominee. Since unpledged delegates like Jason aren't required to cast their votes until the August convention, and it's mathematically impossible for either candidate to secure the necessary 2,025 delegates through pledged ones alone, superdelegates will likely have the final say.

Pundits and voters have united to decry the injustice of this system, fearing that after the people have spoken, the superdelegates - perhaps clad in superheroes' capes - will swoop in and steal the election. The loudest criers hail from the Obama camp, for the Illinois senator is the probable victim in this scenario. It is he who leads Senator Clinton in pledged delegates, but trails in superdelegates. And it is she who carries the reputation of political operator, adept at conducting backroom trades to seduce the supers.

The notion that 795 elites of the Washington establishment might handpick the Democratic nominee is certainly troublesome. An Obama girl myself, I'm especially disturbed that the power of the Clinton machinery might trump that of the populace's vote.

But after a conversation with Jason Rae and a peak into the secret life of a superdelegate, I came to believe that perhaps my fears are unfounded. Instead of deserving our holier-than-thou, power-to-the-people condemnation, the superdelegates might actually constitute one of the more democratic aspects of our nomination process.

Consider this superdelegate's story: As a politically interested 17-year-old, Jason decided to advance his role in our democracy and run for a spot on Wisconsin's Democratic National Committee. He gathered together a few hundred of his closet friends, hand-painted signs with the slogan, "A RAE of Hope for the Future," and managed to defeat two veteran Dems to become the DNC's youngest member.

Along with Democratic senators, representatives, governors, presidents, and party leaders, DNC members are automatic superdelegates.

"I wanted to ensure that my generation of voters had a voice at the national table," Jason explained.

This Wisconsin native has been spending the last several months lunching and chatting with the likes of President Clinton, Senator Obama, Chelsea Clinton and Senator Kerry about the prospects of the candidates.

"Each individual was able to give me valuable insight on how the campaign was going," he told me.

Instead of political wheeling-and-dealing, Jason engaged in meaningful dialogue with the campaigns, taking advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about the candidates' strengths and weaknesses and glean the information he required to make an informed decision.

"I never once felt as though the campaigns were putting pressure on me to vote for their candidate," he recalled. "They were encouraging me along the way, but never was it in a way that made me feel uncomfortable."

While it may be presumptuous to assume that all interplay between superdelegates and campaigns is this benign, Jason's experience sheds new light on the process. more

Clinton Wins 3 States Nets Maybe 12 Delegates

delegates, delegates, delegates.

i see that there are some people (those who have better things to do and haven't learned the ins and outs of delegates) who don't realize that even though clinton wins states, doesn't mean she wins and that there is virtually no way she can win, even if she wins the next 16 states.

obama's lead is simply too big.

last night for example, she'll end up with less than 12 net delegates. the texas caucus vote is still being counted. so far, clinton won 185 last night, with her three "big" states and obama has 173, so far, with his vermont win.

in fact, obama is ahead at this point.
not to say clinton isn't going to try other techniques or apply hope, as in if she keeps going, she hopes obama will blunder.
this is how it stands:

Obama: 1360 delegates
superdelegates: 199 (obama added 2 to this number today)
total delegates: 1559

Clinton: 1220 delegates
superdelegates: 240
total delegates: 1460

for more superdelegates: Superdelegates explained

Magical Mystical Superdelegates

aha! superdelegates throw around their super powers if the candidates don't get the 2025 delegates needed to win the nomination. i hope this doesn't happen because it seems a very subjective thing.
There are 796 superdelegates and apparently, Obama has 96 pledged, which means they said "I do" to obama and clinton has 204 pledged, according to the NYT. so the rest of them are up for wooing.

Obama Beats Clinton in Delegates?

what's next?

there are several states holding caucuses and primaries coming up this month, feb. 9, feb. 12, feb. 18. more are in march, april and june.

where it stands: obama's got popular vote in Alaska, Missouri., Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Connecticut, North Dakota, Utah, Kansas, Alabama, Delware, Illinois, Georgia. he's won more states but clinton won the biggest two states in terms of delegates: new york and california.

it's the delegates that matters. 2025 are needed and neither have reached the 1,000 mark. and obama may have beat clinton in terms of delegates. that's some math those democrats do. then there are those so-called superdelegates and who the heck knows what they do. i haven't been able to figure it out and it doesn't seem like anyone is certain.

i see that clinton has more than obama but when do they matter? can they just be super at any time? or do they kick in at certain times? don't know.

delegate tracker

Obama 199 Clinton 260 Delegates

Obama announces his candidacy.

how exhausting has this been, asks diane sawyer of obama this morning?
"it's actually been exhilarating," obama says.
good answer.

here's how it stands on delegates: clinton 260, barack 199
an "expert" says if the gap between them is between 60-125 delegates, then the process will go on with neither too much of a lead.

obama has 63 delegates pledged; clinton has 48
obama has 110 superdelegates; clinton has 201

then there are the unpledged delegates and superdelegates.

superdelegates have big sway.

if you're still "undecided" today, just vote obama. trust me on this one.


"an american dream"

Does Obama Have To Win California?

the delegate and superdelegate addition gets real tricky according to anything that i've read. you have to be a mathmetician of sorts.
on tuesday, the states voting: New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

California sends 441 delegates to the convention, the largest number, so Cali is important.

this from howstuffworks, a good explainer.

the california process:

By Frank D. Russo

Many of the articles written about the California Democratic Presidential primary focus on the horse race of the statewide popular vote, and by the time the ink is dry on this article there will probably be another poll and more prognostications as to who the likely winner is going to be when the votes are counted February 5.

While the statewide vote will provide a candidate with “momentum” and a victory, what is lost with this focus is that we are electing delegates to the Democratic National Convention—and that the bulk of the action here takes place locally, in each of our state’s 53 Congressional Districts. 241 of California’s 441 delegates are elected based on the share of the vote the candidates for President receive in those districts. Only 81 delegates are elected “at-large” and go to the winner of the statewide vote.

The remaining 119 delegates are selected (not elected). These include 66 “super delegates” (Members of Congress, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Members, and a former DNC Chair). Also 48 Pledged Party Leaders / Elected Officials (PLEOs) committed to candidates who receive at least 15% of the statewide vote and apportioned by their share of the vote. Another 5 are also appointed who are “unpledged” to any candidate.

A few readers have written in, asking how one enters the process to become a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which will not only nominate candidates for President and Vice President, but also adopt the Party’s platform. Now that forms are available through the California Democratic Party (CDP) website to run as a Congressional District delegate, here are some of the rules and suggestions on how to apply and perhaps be part of history as a delegate or alternate at the August 25-28, 2008 Denver, Colorado convention. The CDP has more information on this process on their site and will begin listing those who have applied in each Congressional District. read the rest

here's a primer.
here's another.
Session 1D will simulate the Democratic presidential delegate selection process from the Iowa caucuses (January 14, 2008) through Super Tuesday (February 5, 2008). Five states will employ caucuses (Iowa, Nevada, Alaska, Colorado and Minnesota) and 21 states will use presidential primaries (New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah). Again, a total of 2,321 Democratic delegates are at stake in Session 1D.

Please note there are two types of delegates—pledged and unpledged delegates. Pledged delegates are those who must vote for the person who wins their state caucus or primary at the Democratic National Convention in Session 3D. All of the delegates up for grabs in Session 1D are pledged delegates! Unpledged delegates are those who are free to vote for anybody they desire at the Democratic National Convention in Session 3D. These are the so-called “Super Delegates” comprised of Democratic officeholders and officials from each state. For example, Florida will have a total of 210 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Session 3D. Of those, 185 are pledged delegates (selected in Session 1D) and 25 are the unpledged “Super Delegates” who attend Session 3D uncommitted to any presidential candidate.

In our simulation, all Democratic caucus and primary states will use proportional voting to assign delegates to our mock Democratic National Convention (Sessions 2D and 3D). For example, if Candidate X wins 33 percent of the votes in the Iowa caucus, then he or she will win 15 of Iowa’s 45 pledged delegates to the Democratic National. Recall, however, that these are pledged delegates. In Session 3D, Iowa will have a total of 60 delegates to the Democratic National Convention—45 pledged delegates and 15 unpledged or Super Delegates.