Dodd agrees to sign pledge

Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007 4:39 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Democrats, 2008, Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Obama, Richardson

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Dodd and became the first presidential hopeful to sign the early state pledge we reported on earlier.

DODD: "I believe that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada offer a cross section of America and allow for voters to probe the experience and vision of candidates in a meaningful way. In this year, where the national media focus seems to be on celebrity and bank accounts, the role of these states is more important than ever. I am committed to the DNC nominating calendar and preserving the first in the nation status of Iowa and New Hampshire."

*** UPDATE *** BIDEN SIGNS PLEDGE: Biden Campaign Manager Luis Navarro: "It is time to end all the maneuvering around the dates of the early primaries and caucuses. We intend not only to sign the pledge, but to honor our pledge to Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina to respect their primacy to the process. They played by the rules of the DNC. We respect those rules. The public despises this kind of maneuvering for political advantage. If the Republicans want to play this way, let them. But we will not be a party to it."

*** UPDATE 2 *** OBAMA, EDWARDS AND RICHARDSON ALSO SIGN PLEDGE: Obama, Edwards and Richardson have also agreed to sign the pledge. This puts pressure on Clinton now to say whether she will campaign in Florida and Michigan for defying the DNC and moving up inside the Feb. 5 window. ***UPDATE 3*** CLINTON SIGNS PLEDGE

Here are Obama's, Edwards' and Clinton's statements:

OBAMA: “As I have campaigned across America over the last six months, it's become clear that Governor (Howard) Dean and the Democratic National Committee have put together a presidential nomination process that's in the best interests of our party and our nation.”

EDWARDS: "Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina need to be first because in these states ideas count, not just money. This tried-and-true nominating system is the only way for voters to judge the field based on the quality of the candidate, not the depth of their war chest."

CLINTON: “We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process,” Patti Solis Doyle, the Clinton campaign manager, said in a statement per the New York Times.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Is this something we're going to see everyone back? It seems that they would have to.

http://political-buzz.com/2007/08/31/political-buzz-radio-live-today-at-5-pm-eastern-2/

matthew (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 4:52 PM)

The smart candidate will go where the people are, and thus, where the media will cover them. If only two or three candidates participate in Michigan and Florida, then those two or three candidates will get all the glory.

Patrick, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 5:00 PM)

Dodd agreed to sign the pledge? The pledge that says for those trips that he took with Craig to the bathroom meant nothing to him?

Mags Lawson, Cambirdge, MA (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 5:11 PM)

Good for Dodd! I hope the rest of them do it too. At least for this election cycle, leave things the way they were scheduled before everyone got all greedy with their "me first" nonsense. After the nominations are done, the states should all get together or form a commission or something of the sort to figure out how to better handle presidential nominations in 2012. Now is not the time to reform the process...they waited too long.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 5:28 PM)

This is a good move by Dodd !!
It's also a brave move.
Hopefully, other Democrats will also follow his lead.
Chris Dodd is starting to differentiate himself form other Democrats.
It's refreshing that Dodd is starting to bring something to the table.

Sierra, SF (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 5:37 PM)

Mags,
typical of a repukelicant to diss a perfectly well-intended promise caused by the present administration. so you think we should be a nation that is allowed to spy on its citizens without warrant or cause, leave out habaeus corpus and not disclose anything to the public? and then to drag Dodd's name with the GUILTY craig (he did plead guilty), that is just as disgusting as what craig did. so mags, do you enjoy beating up your kids, or what?

Mark Y; Westlake Village, CA (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 6:11 PM)

It's easy to take this pledge when you know you don't have a shot in hell at the nomination so you won't be held accountable by the voters if you take the Pledge pretending to be all moral. Yeah, Whoo Hoo. Go Biden. Go Dodd.

Go somewhere and sit down.

DR (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 8:31 PM)

Wow -- the royal "we", Joe?

Some of us must think pretty highly of ourselves; but then again, some of us were for the war before we were (sort of) against it, so I 'spect the Distinguished Senator(s?) was (were?) simply referring to both sides of his (their?) face.

Luv ya, Joe -- have any of you in your Royal We Multiplicity talked the Iraqis into splitting their country into three parts yet, with none of the parts powerful enough to defend itself so we can stay there indefinitely and do it for 'em?

Good luck, y'all -- you're the only guy(s?) I know to whom I can safely refer in the plural ...

Rick Lapin, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 8:55 PM)

So Who's Dodd?

Deryl Fisher Ocean Springs MS (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 8:56 PM)

I don't believe that Iowa & New Hampshire are any better than the rest of us! The only sane way would be to have a national primary about 3 or 4 months before the real election. There should be some law against anyone announcing their candidacy more than a year before the election.

Der Fish (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 8:59 PM)

Hmm...was just on Huffington Post and over there Bill Richardson was supposedly the first to sign this pledge.

Juanito, Washington, DC (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 11:45 PM)

If you live in Washington state and our primary is now in August, but soon to move up to May 08, why vote in the May 08 when so many state's primaries are in Jan, Feb, March 08. How does that leave me to vote for a candidate in May 08 when its decided for me by other states. I would love to see a National Primary Day, say 2nd Tuesday in Feb 08, then clear the decks and let the 2 Presidential candidates go at it then in May 08 each party have their conventions and select the VP and then go at it, 6 months later we vote...I can dream can't I?

J East, Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, August 31, 2007 11:53 PM)

I commend the 3 who have signed. I am hoping Obama does as well.
It is important to keep this thing from becoming anarchy and chaos.
The losers if these renegade states won't comply by their agreement to not move earlier than Feb. 5th will be the voters. And as a result, in the end the country.

diane (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 1:01 AM)

Mags, I thought that the collective intelligence in Cambridge was higher than your remarks indicate.

Jon - Tulsa, OK (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 3:25 AM)

Carrie - You're right, enough "me first" chaos; all that ever adds up to in life is everyone getting stuck in the doorway. I also agree with you on 2012, and I hope that the final compromise Dean offers MI and FL before stripping their delegates involves creating a commission to revamp the nomination process four years from now.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 8:38 AM)

Dodd...who???

Bj (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 11:27 AM)

John Edwards has signed the pledge.

Hmmm.....wonder why Dodd, Biden, Hillary, Kucinich and other Dems refuse to sign Edwards' pledge to reject donations from DC lobbyists and PACs? Of course, Edwards has rejected those donations since he ran for the senate in 1998. Other Dem candidates have been on the lobbyists crack a longggg time.

Richard, Palatka, FL (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 12:02 PM)

Brave move by Dodd? What's brave about clinging to an anachronistic primary scheme that provides the only long-shot chance you have of winning? Dodd, Biden, and the other "pledgers" know they have no chance--zilch--of winning early primaries in Florida, Michigan,or any other large state. Do you seriously think they'd be making "the pledge" if they did? There's nothing wrong with acting so obviously in one's self interest, but calling this brave is ridiculous.

Joe, DC (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 12:20 PM)

Hardly heroic - Dodd, Obama and Edwards do not want to compete in these states for one reson - they are all FAR behind Hillary in these states.

csh, chicago (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 12:56 PM)

Alot of people repubs and demos were for Vietnam in 66 ,67 things change and you mistake a sign of unity the votes of the demos giving bush the authority as weakness and you view intelligence such as seeing what lies didnt unfold the way they told to you as weakness ,just check out cheyne from94" If we invaded iraq it would be chaos a quagmire " HE PLAYED YOU AND ME FOR FOOLS .I woke up you are still under the spell of his words from 2002 LIAR LIAR the country is on fire

Kenn"those sounds you hear are the ghosts you left behind"O (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 1:49 PM)

In all fairness, csh, polls this early as we all know mean nothing except more media hype. And there will now be pressure on Clinton to sign the pledge too because if she is the only one competing, then that will look absolutely horrible. Had either Edwards or Obama not signed, then it would be a different picture.

Also, Dodd who?

Patrick, Los Angeles (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 1:59 PM)

I'm proud of the Democratic field !!
What scumbag Democratic candidate WOULDN'T SIGN IT ??

Oh ?..... why.... Hello, Hillary !!

Hillary Clinton, 15 years of dishonesty, scandal and political polarization

Sierra, SF (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 2:02 PM)

Csh, Chicago- You're wrong, apparently Obama is favored to win in Michigan.

I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but I've suspected Hillary's campaign was behind the leap frogging. In very early May a memo by one of her chief strategist suggesting the campaign skip Iowa, because it will be a very difficult state for her, and in order to even compete she'll need to spend at least 10 million in addition to having to spend time campaigning in Iowa. after her "Iowa problem" memo was leaked (probably by a pissed of campaign worker with strong Iowa ties) she immediately went into damage control, and said she is going to campaign and win in Iowa, that this was an unsolicited memo representing the strategists views, not hers. Soon after the leak, and denial, she was forced to compete in a state that presents real problems for her (because we in Iowa put a high premium on electability, her biggest vulnerability) Florida started to make noise about moving its primary, and the Democratic congressional leaders who backed the move were Hillary supporters. I believe she figured if she couldn't win Iowa, and could even finish 3rd or 4th, she would eliminate the "Iowa problem" by changing the calendar. Despite the fact that the calendar had been approved unanimously by all of 50 state (and DC's) delegates to the DNC, as well the sanctions for any state's violation of the calendar, Hillary is willing to ignore the calendar. Why? Because the calendar presents problems for her, so lets just change the calendar.

The time to change the calendar is at the DNC meetings that happen between election cycles, not less than 6 months prior to the first contest. A candidate that refuses to recognize the calendar that was unanimously approved by every state DNC delegate is clearly afraid of their prospects in the first four states. Do we want a nominee, who is afraid they can't perform well enough in Iowa, NH, So. Carolina and NV? I don't want someone afraid to play by the pre-set primary rules representing the Democratic party in the general.

If Hillary won't sign the pledge she will display a very ugly side of her campaign, the one that right now only those supporting other candidates have seen. (lying about candidates ages, claiming on candidate is a skirt chaser, etc.)

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 2:43 PM)

Early primaries help Hillary. Only a few more months for the media to continue claiming she has a health care plan while promoting her fluff as "presidential."

But the informed see the media's scam.

Charlotte, NYC (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 2:51 PM)

Jon in Tulsa: Mags, I thought that the collective intelligence in Cambridge was higher than your remarks indicate.

Jon, you are right, my apologies. The trips to the bathroom with Craig did mean something to Dodd.

Mags Lawson, Cambirdge, MA (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 3:39 PM)

I can no longer support Senator Obama.

He pledges a change from politics as usual, and then backs an archaic, old-politics primary calendar.

Florida Republicans moved the primary, Florida's Democratic Voters should not have to pay for that move.

Disenfranchised, Central Florida (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 5:49 PM)

EWARDS 08!

David, Chattanooga, Tn (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 9:08 PM)

at this time kerry was far behind dean. Obama has the money to compete in those states and was just in florida campaigning. Only person afraid of hillary is her conscious.

sonya, atlanta, ga (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 11:12 PM)

Ah what fun it is to see the leftists stabbing each other, left-handed of course, in a public display of venal selfishness.

Lefty Leftowicz, Left Bank, VT (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 7:38 AM)

I wonder if these "pledgers" will be really bold by rejeccting and repudiating the votes of Florida and Michigan. Now that would take real courage!

Bob in Blountstown, Fl

Robert Davis (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 12:48 PM)

"Make'em Wrestle!"

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 2:20 PM)

Dims take their pledges today because they know they won't need to in January/09.

Barb Wilson (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 6:39 PM)

Yes Disenfranchised in Florida, I'm sure if Obama was kissing your state's ass, THAT would really be a change from politics as usual; the truth you're not upset because you think Obama pandered, but simply because you don't think he pandered enough to YOU. On every occasion, Obama has shown he believes in the rule of law, and doesn't pander to anybody; this decision is just one more example.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 7:23 PM)

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Thank you for the very illuminating comments about Hillary. Voters need to know that her campaign has a lot of really ugly inner workings.

BTW: It's interesting (not in a good way) that lots of political pundits (CNN, MSNBC, NBC, etc.) appear to have bought into Clinton's campaign rhetoric and hype. Most pundits are out of touch with voters. Maybe some of her legal team have contacted the pundits with the message: 'don't you call my baby ugly'. Like I said, it's interesting.

J. Smith, Portland, OR (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 1:16 AM)

Disenfranchised, Central Florida (Sent Saturday, September 01, 2007 5:49 PM)
I think alot of them do not realize that Florida has a Republican Governor, who signed to have this moved up, those who wanted this know the party rules on both sides... yep Charlie Crist gave us a paper trail but screwed the voters in another way..

Brenda Deltona FL (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 10:32 AM)

Clinton has signed also. Unfortunately she didn't have much choice after all the rest did their pontificating and the DNC came out as strong as they did. Maybe the present schedule should not be changed or else go to a national primary date, which idea I like.

However, I doubt the sincerity of some of the candidates who will remain unnamed. They knew for one thing that they had no shot of beating Clinton in Fla which I believe has as many or more delegates than the traditional earliest 4 combined.

Also, while I haven't seen the newest Michigan numbers, I know it's a dogfight between Clinton and Obama, with who is leading depending on the poll. The others are substantially behind I believe.

It's easy to take the high ground when it is greatly in your political interest to do so.

I laugh at Biden's statement, "The public despises this kind of maneuvering for political advantage." The public may despise it, but every candidate is posturing for political advantage or out of political pressure in this situation. That is the name of the game.

Nick Dorsey (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 2:48 PM)

Clinton is ahead in MI

HMT-MI (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 7:55 PM)

Csh, Chicago- You're wrong, apparently Obama is favored to win in Michigan

Also, while I haven't seen the newest Michigan numbers, I know it's a dogfight between Clinton and Obama, with who is leading depending on the poll.

It's an opinion blog all right;

Poll Date Sample Clinton Obama Edwards Gore Spread
Detroit News 08/26 - 08/31 396 LV 40 21 16 -- Clinton +19.0
Detroit News 08/08 - 08/13 400 LV 32 16 8 36 Gore +4.0
Strategic Vision (R) 07/06 - 07/08 LV 32 25 16 -- Clinton +7.0
American Res. Group 05/04 - 05/07 600 LV 38 25 14 -- Clinton +13.0
Strategic Vision (R) 04/13 - 04/15 LV 29 24 22 -- Clinton +5.0
Detroit News 03/12 - 03/18 454 LV 45 29 16 -- Clinton +16.0
Strategic Vision (R) 03/09 - 03/11 LV 33 28 14 -- Clinton +5.0
American Res. Group 02/23 - 02/27 600 LV 35 30 14 -- Clinton +5.0
Detroit Free Press 01/28 - 01/31 273 LV 49 20 8 -- Clinton +29.0
American Res. Group 01/04 - 01/07 600 LV 30 30 17 -- Tie

One poll since January that doesn't have Senator Clinton in the lead, and that one has Gore ahead. The most recent from the Detriot Free Press (8/26-8/31) has her up by a mere 19 points.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:05 AM)

The Primary mess this year needs to be brought under control. The DNC, Dodd, Biden and the rest of the candidates are right to do this. The state parties manuevering for position has only caused distraction to the whole process. We're supposed to be trying to make informed decisions on who will lead our nation. I like the idea of Iowa and NH first, and having 4 regions rotating every 4 years. Obviously that won't start with '08 but the madness must be reigned in.

Pete, Hartford, CT (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 12:53 PM)

Clinton is ahead in MI

The only thing Hillary is ahead of is that crap wagon she's pulling around the country.

Nyron Mulibeck (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 2:19 PM)

The leading Democratic White House hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential term in 2013.

Who do you believe won the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate? -------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=597

.

PollM (Sent Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:42 AM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=341996