The delegate fight: Wooing supers

Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008 9:04 AM by Domenico Montanaro

After lots of fanfare yesterday morning, the Florida Democratic Party’s mail-in plan looks like it may be DOA.

Meanwhile, “Michigan Democrats are close to an agreement with presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to hold a do-over primary,” the AP reports. “The Clinton campaign made it clear that it strongly prefers a state-run primary to mail-in voting during the meeting, according to a campaign official speaking anonymously about the private talks.”

Clinton hosted uncommitted superdelegates (a.k.a. members of Congress) at her DC home on Wednesday night. "After the Clinton reception, Chris Haylor, a campaign official, sent out a memo listing the undecided lawmakers who had attended and asking for help with lobbying them. ‘We encourage you all to seek them out today and thank them for attending and to get their feedback,’ he wrote. ‘We want to make sure we strike while the iron is hot.’”

“Among those on Haylor's list were several Southerners (Rep. Robert E. ‘Bud’ Cramer of Alabama; Reps. Lincoln Davis and Bart Gordon of Tennessee; and Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina), as well as a handful of Californians (Reps. Susan A. Davis, Sam Farr and Bob Filner) an Oklahoman (Rep. Dan Boren) and an Arizonan (Rep. Gabrielle Giffords)."

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Comments

This simply isn't equitable.
Hillary's wins in Michigan and Florida would have quelled Obama's momentum, and would have tipped the primary nomination process in her favor.
Nobody said he had to take his name off the ballot, their was no agreement to do that. Obama wants everything handed to him.
She won fair and square. Seat her delegates and move on.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:14 AM)

Michigan should hold a new primary (no caucus)! The Florida primary should be counted as it stands. All the candidates were on the ballot, none (except Obama) campaigned there. Let Florida's vote stand. And wake up msnbc, the Rev J Wright has been an influence on Senator Obama for the last 20 years! He regularly spewes hate and racism. It is not something new. Grow up and report the news. Let the American people know the type of person they may be voting into the most important office in this country.

Michiel W So Beloit, IL (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:38 AM)

Yes, because striking while the iron is hot is truly how you find the best choice, how decision-making should be conducted in choosing the Dem. nominee for President of the United States. Yes I am being sarcastic.

And people question why people don't bother to vote in America...

Whatever, just politics as usual. I am choosing to remain hopeful that superdelegates make good choices that go beyond just being lobbied.

Woman for Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:42 AM)

"It's clear: This election they're having is not going to count for anything. I personally did not think it made any difference whether or not my name was on the ballot" - Hillary Clinton, interview on New Hampshire Public Radio
____________

You're right. Nobody said he had to take his name off the ballot.

But CLINTON did say, and agree with the DNC rules, that "It's clear: This election they're having is not going to count for anything."

Her own words. So... which is it J. Merle? Are you saying she should be an untrustworthy flip flopper and try and count those? Or should she be honest and fair and agree to a real primary in Michigan this June?

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:43 AM)

These primaries in Michigan and Florida were agreed to be invalid by all the candidates. Now Clinton wants to be valid - no way. Not to mention, the voters were told they wouldn't be valid, and so reacted accordingly. Changes the rules after the primaries is cheating everyone.

Rebecca, Montgomery, AL (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:45 AM)

DO WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK TO THE PROMISE LAND IT ONCE WAS HILL...GET US OUR HEALTHCARE,OUR JOBS AND HOMES BACK!!!
AMERICA NEEDS A CHANGE BUT A GOOD ONE THAT WOULD BE HILLARY CLINTON.......

SHARON,LARGO,FL (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:46 AM)

J. Merle,

Hillary doesn't have a chance in Michigan. She won 55% of the vote against "uncommitted". "Uncommitted" sure put up a tough fight! What a joke.

And, actually, she didn't win anything "fair and square". It was decided before hand that the primary was worthless. But, obviously, rules and procedures don't mean anything to the Clinton campaign. It sort of reminds me of when Bush said "the Constitution is just a piece of paper".

Jesse, Burnsville, MN (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:46 AM)

the DNC told the Florida and Michigan voters that their votes will not counted.... that was last year....all the canditates agreed to this, however Hillary thought she would be the front runner at that time, so now she needs the delegates....this is the only reason that this was brought to the forefront why did she not disagree with this at the time.....once again the Clintons are trying to get their own way it is sickening the way the media panders to them.....even with Florida and Michigan she cannot make up the delegates to win the nomination.

irene ross Burlington Ontario (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:49 AM)

Democrats make their own rules and then cannot live by them. Hillary does not understand the question people are asking: How can they run our country???

Of course, as we have learned, the Clintons do not believe that the rules or laws apply to them.

Ejh, sc, az (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:54 AM)

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY - I agree with you 100%!

What a different position we would all be in right now if MI and FL delegates were counted from day one. We would not be having these Clinton vs. Obama debates... instead, we would be rallying behind the nominee, Clinton, and bashing McCain.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:55 AM)

You know what's sad.

The fact that she has flip flopped on Michigan is really not news to me (but just in case its new to others its good the news stations bring it up).

This is how she has been the WHOLE CAMPAIGN. She says things to suit her needs, she panders on a regular basis. It is why I don't trust a thing she says.

It is one thing to selectively talk about issues that matters to voters in different states, that's entirely justified...some ISSUES are more important in some states versus others.

But Clinton goes beyond that, she spins the rules to suit her needs. How, on earth, is that going to play with all the people she would need to deal with as a President. I truly can't imagine that.

Tactics ARE important, they are an essential measure on how a person will govern and lead and deal with people.

Vote Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:59 AM)

I take it, Michiel W from So. Beloit that by putting no caucus in parenthesis that you assume if Michigan held a caucus, the delegates would vote for Obama; therefore you wouldn't agree with THAT! How transparent can you be? And just because I work for a Catholic-run organization ( a hospital), do you also "assume" that I would support priest molesting children because they've done that for the last 20 years? That follows your line of logic. I believe YOU are the one that needs to grow up.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:59 AM)

"Oh, wasn't Hillary's veggie dip good? Maybe we should support her quixotic campaign for president."

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:00 AM)

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 9:14 AM):

Merle:

READ OUR LIPS! Hillary signed a pledge before the primaries that she would not campaign or "particpate" in the Florida or Michigan primaries along with the rest of the candididates. By not removing her name from the ballot as did the other candidates she "particpated" in the Michigan primary, failed to live up to her word and signature on this pledge, and lied to the Amerccian people and the Dem Party. And you want this person to be your Presdient? Have at it.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:03 AM)

The bottom line is Clinton agreed to the DNC rules regarding FL and MI. The fact that she has reniged on the agreement, clearly shows that she does not keep her word. Further,Clinton has said that she wants to redo NAFTA then sent her surrogate to tell Canadian officials she doesn't really means it. If she gets into the White House, can the American people trust anything that she says? She has shown over and over again that her modus operandi is to say one thing and then do something else. Yes Hillary talks the talk, but clearly does not walk the walk.

Lizzy, Hershey, PA (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:09 AM)

"This simply isn't equitable.
Hillary's wins in Michigan and Florida would have quelled Obama's momentum, and would have tipped the primary nomination process in her favor.
Nobody said he had to take his name off the ballot, their was no agreement to do that. Obama wants everything handed to him.
She won fair and square. Seat her delegates and move on."

Fair and square? You have to be kidding me! Do you really believe we are all idiots? Those primarys were not LEGAL, Obama did not campaign and you think that is fair? Do you have a brain in your head?

bobw Mendon, NY (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:12 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Super Delegates, super sneaky. The Democratic Pary Proletariat plots to steal the election and the media sleeps.

twocanpete (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:21 AM)

IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE ONE OF THE SUPERS WHO CHANGED FROM HILLARY TO OBAMA WAS BEAT UP. WE WONDERED IF IT WAS VERBALLY OR IF IT WAS PHYSICAL. HE DID LOOK LIKE HE HAD CHANGED HIS VOTE UNDER DURESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK IF THE DELEGATES DO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IT WOULD BE TO HELP THE BEST PERSON GET DELEGATES TO WIN. I SOMEHOW DON'T THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN.
THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTIONS ARE BEING RUN THE LESS I LIKE WHAT I HEAR. PERSONAL VENDETTAS PLAY INTO THE DECISION MAKING. I REALLY WISH.
ONLY DEMOCRATES GOT TO VOTE IN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS. SAME WITH REPUBLICANS.
I GREW UP THINKING AMERICANS VALUED THE FACT THAT WE GOT ONE VOTE PER PERSON. NOW WE KNOW THAT JUST IS NOT TRUE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

SHIRLEY AR. (Sent Friday, March 14, 2008 10:22 AM)

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