More superdelegate endorsements coming for Obama

By: teacherken
Published On: 3/30/2008 10:24:10 PM

According to this story in tomorrow's Wall Street Journal, it will start tomorrow with Amy Klobuchar, freshman Democratic Senator from MN.  And in the very next sentence, we read
Meanwhile, North Carolina's seven Democratic House members are poised to endorse Sen. Obama as a group -- just one has so far -- before that state's May 6 primary, several Democrats say.

Now, that WOULD be big, and probably of far more significance than anything John Edwards might do. Remember, these people are running for reelection.  The list would include G. K. Butterfield, Jr. (01), Bob Etheridge (02), David Price (04), Mike McIntyre (07), Heath Shuler (11), Mel Watt (12), and Brad Miller (13).  (more)
Let me offer two more paragraphs of interest:
One North Carolinian confirmed that at least several of the state's House members would go public in favor of Sen. Obama before long. Meanwhile, elected officials in other states with upcoming contests, including Indiana, Montana and Oregon, are weighing whether to endorse Sen. Obama.

What makes such endorsements significant is that they're from superdelegates. These delegates -- members of Congress, governors and other party officials -- can vote for whomever they want at the Democratic convention in August. Sen. Obama has a slight lead over Sen. Clinton in the pledged-delegate count -- the delegates won during primaries and caucuses -- but neither can amass enough pledged delegates for a majority. That makes the vote of the superdelegates decisive.

If all of the NC Dem Congressmen were to endorse, and we add them to Klobuchar, that would cut Clinton's current margin of superdelegates by 20%.  

We shall see, but I thought the story was worth passing on.

Comments



This is very interesting (Ron1 - 3/30/2008 10:50:22 PM)
Thanks for the report, Ken.

Now imagine if in Indiana Baron Hill (who is facing a primary opponent, albeit someone not likely to win), Brad Ellsworth, Joe Donnelly, three conservative Dems, Andre Carson, the newly elected Rep from Indianapolis, and the longtime liberal member Pete Visclosky were to do the same thing. THAT would be interesting.



there is a possible question about Shuler (teacherken - 3/30/2008 10:55:10 PM)
Scrutiny Hooligans, a regional blog, has a quote from him where he expresses some disappointment in everyone.   Still, if all the others are going to endorse (and I think Butterfield alrady has), it is hard to imagine sticking out that badly.


Heck (Ron1 - 3/30/2008 10:58:48 PM)
Most Dems would probably happier for their candidate to not have Shuler's endorsement! :)

I think this thing could be over by the end of the North Carolina and Indiana contests; probably not, but it's a good possibility if Barack closes to a narrow loss in Penna and wins in NC and Indiana.  



I have predicted that May 6th is the end (teacherken - 3/30/2008 11:08:05 PM)
if HRC does not win a blowout in Penna, and there is increasing evidence that the margin she had maintained there is beginning to erode, then she has trouble raising $$ for IN and NC, in which case she loses both, and after those two she is as far - or even further - behind in pledged delegates as she is now.  Then it is all over.  And while she could go on, at that point I would expect a flood of supers to begin to break towards Obama.

She HAS to win Penna by at least as much as OH, or she has no momentum:  at this point the press will examine the expectations game.  And on that a 5 point win would be interpreted as a loss.



I agree with that analysis (Ron1 - 3/30/2008 11:21:01 PM)
Penna being the key. I am hopeful that Barack can actually close the gap there, and I think this past week has really hurt Hillary's chances with the Bosnia/truthiness episode, but the demographics are still so uphill there -- I'm very wary of predicting a close result after what happened on March 4th in states with similar demographic hurdles.

I wonder if maybe an endorsement from Rep. Doyle or Holden or Kanjorski might help him out some in those areas.

Did Patrick Murphy endorse? I seem to think he endorsed Barack, but that might be more wishful thinking. I know Sestak went with Hillary.

Thank goodness only three more weeks 'til the voting starts again.



Now it's about the money (True Blue - 3/30/2008 11:42:23 PM)
Once people realize that Hillary's out of money, her options will narrow.

http://www.politico.com/news/s...



Big coup in NC if true (Craig - 3/30/2008 11:56:21 PM)
Especially if Shuler and McIntyre are for real.  I think a lot of people reckoned that the two Blue Dogs in the NC Dem delegation were at least Hillary leaners.  Not that Obama hasn't gotten Blue Dog endorsements before (Chet Edwards of TX for instance), but still, no small feat.


Actually, (MikeSizemore - 3/31/2008 12:31:28 AM)
...most figured the Blue Dogs to stick this thing out without endorsing. Shuler actually had a statement suggesting just that, but that whoever the nominee be, there would be unification.