The delegate fight

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:43 AM by Domenico Montanaro

PENNSYLVANIA: 4/22 (158 delegates)
It looks like the Philly Dem Committee may stay out of the Dem primary and not endorse either candidate; that's good news for Obama as most of the Dem establishment in the state has been siding with Clinton. Of course, "For Clinton and Obama, a City Committee endorsement would probably carry little weight because swaying voters in a presidential race is difficult. The only practical advantage, political consultant Larry Ceisler said, might be logistical, in that the Democratic machinery might ‘help get people to the polls, make sure there is no trouble at the polls, and be the eyes and ears on the ground.’

“That is probably not enough to make either campaign press too hard for an endorsement, which goes well with the sentiment voiced this week by ward leaders."

Some other notes from NBC/NJ’s Matthew Berger: Rendell told the Clinton campaign to hold off on visiting Pittsburgh until they had garnered the endorsements of both Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. His heavy campaigning for Clinton has angered some Republicans who say he isn’t spending enough time on state issues and Democrats who say he isn’t doing enough to elect Democrats to the state legislature.

Pennsylvania is 30 percent Catholic, and Obama is planning small roundtable meetings with Catholic voters to focus on economy, jobs and healthcare issues, as well as play down the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue. “Clinton backers Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week wrote a letter to Pennsylvania Catholics emphasizing her plans on health care, mortgage foreclosures and fuel costs.”

NORTH CAROLINA: 5/6 (115 delegates)
Some notes from NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann: Today kicks off a three-day Clinton blitz that will see all three members of the former First Family in the Tar Heel State between now and Saturday. Today, Hillary Clinton hits Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Fayetteville; tomorrow, Bill Clinton visits Greensboro and points west in a marathon five-stop day; and Saturday, Chelsea Clinton joins former senator John Edwards in addressing the state's Young Democrats organization. Gone are the days of local speculation that Hillary would be writing off North Carolina; reporters now are too busy Mapquesting the trip between Kannapolis and Salisbury and praying that they still have time to profile their third Republican gubernatorial candidate this week.

The News & Observer leads its coverage of Obama's Greensboro stop yesterday with the senator's criticism of Clinton's lobbying ties while the Winston-Salem Journal tops its story with Obama's slams on John McCain's economic policy.

Per the Winston-Salem Journal's Trail Mix blog, Obama mentioned McCain's name eight times in his speech yesterday, Bush's 10 times, and Hillary Clinton's only twice.

The North Carolina Democratic Party has officially moved the date of this year's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner to May 2nd, four days before the state's primary contest. The Party hopes that both of its presidential candidates will attend the fundraising event, although neither has formally accepted the invitation yet.

Check out this oh-so-interesting quote from Obama, who told local reporters in Greensboro yesterday that he has personally experienced racial discrimination but nothing that has made him "angry or bitter." "'The kinds of experience that I have are the ones that are, I think, shared by a number of other folks: security guards following you around when you're shopping, being stopped when you're going the speed limit and being questioned,' said the senator, per the Greensboro News and Record, 'But nothing that I think would justify me being particularly angry or bitter.'"

"Martin Luther King Jr. was a REPUBLICAN." That's the wording emblazoned on a new highway billboard that's attracting much attention and debate. The message, sponsored by the National Black Republican Association, prompted the state's Republican Party Chairman to admit that he "almost broke my neck trying to look at it." He later applauded the sentiment but conceded that "I would suspect Dr. King would be a Democrat today."

FLORIDA/MICHIGAN
Yesterday, "A federal judge Wednesday struck down part of a state law that would have given the state Republican and Democratic parties -- and no one else -- party preference lists of voters who participated in the January presidential primaries. State Elections Director Chris Thomas said there are no plans to appeal the decision. He said the state would not give the lists to anyone, including the state Republican and Democratic parties, even if they file a Freedom of Information Act request.

“The decision was closely watched by political observers, especially Democratic supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who have been pushing for a do-over nominating contest in Michigan. One theory went that if Edmunds threw out any portion of the law, it might invalidate the entire primary and spark calls for a second Democratic election of some sort. Edmunds said she was not voiding the primary results."

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Comments

Democrat voters of Michigan (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:56 AM)

Tell me if there is a way for the Clintons to even catch up to Obama in pledged delegates, let alone take the lead.

Tell me if there is a way for the Clintons to even catch up to Obama in the popular vote, let alone take the lead.

Even with the illegal FL and MI primaries counted, he's still ahead by quite a margin in both.

And if the Clintons can't catch up, let alone take the lead, in either of these areas...tell me again what the point of keeping this farce going is?

Tell me why all these resources and time wasted is not being used on down ticket promoting?

Tell me why we are willing to endure more slash and burn from a candidate simply based on her last name?

If anyone else was doing what the Clintons are doing while in the same vote deficit position they are in, they'd not only be drummed out of the race, they'd be drummed out of the party.

So why are we enduring this again?

G Davis (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:01 AM)

How can Hillary Clinton claim that Obama wants to disenfranchise voters in MI and FL (especially when it was the DNC that stripped the states of their delegates) and then want to disenfranchise voters from all of the other states by saying that their elected delegates don't have to vote the people's preference. That is the mother of all disenfranchisements.

Patrick, Indianapolis (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:14 AM)

JanetP (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:16 AM)

Wow, sounds like Rendell is losing some support in PA.

It also sounds like Patrick Murphy really held his own against Bill Clinton with the Ward Leaders in Philly. He sounds like a young man to watch.

The race in North Carolina sounds interesting, I am curious to see how that all plays out. I would like to be at the Young Dem conference there...I'd like to hear Edwards! BTW, the question I'd like to ask Chelsea is where was she when her mom was fabricating the Bosnia remarks (didn't she know her mom was being untruthful, that must be hard to watch).

Obama's remarks on race sound honest and I would imagine they sound credible to those who have been there.

Obama for President 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:17 AM)

HILLARY CANNOT WIN ENOUGH DELEGATES --- SHE SHOULD DROP OUT.
HILLARY CANNOT WIN ENOUGH DELEGATES --- SHE SHOULD DROP OUT.

HILLARY SHOULD QUIT THE RACE (EJH, AZ) (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:18 AM)

The Obama campaign has not refused to have a new election in Michigan. If you really are a democrat voter in Michigan, then you should know that it was both parties in the legislative branch that said it would be too much of a logistical nightmare to have another election in such a short time. The only concerns the Obama campaign sighted were they wanted the election to be fair. They said they would support whatever the DNC approved. This has been reported in the MI papers and news channels.

Billy, MI (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:19 AM)

WHY DOES SENATOR OBAMA "REFUSE" TO HOLD A NEW ELECTION IN MICHIGAN? WHEN "ALL" ,YES "ALL" OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED SAY GO FORWARD AND DO A NEW ELECTION.WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO DO SO SENATOR OBAMA ?????????
Democrat voters of Michigan (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:56 AM)

First of all. Are you that stupid that you think people aren't going to realize you are the same moron that posts as "Democratic voters of Florida" and other versions? Clearly you are. Anyone with a shread of intelligence can see in your posting style, phrases you use, and certain use of punctuation that is not correct, that you are the same one.

But anyway...

I'll tell you why. Because Clinton is trying to disenfranchise Democrats that voted in the Republican primary, knowing the Democratic one did "not count for anything" (Hillary's words) so they wanted at least some say and voted on the Republican side.

She is trying to get it so that only those that voted in the Democratic primary can vote this time, and EXCLUDE ANY DEMOCRAT that happened to vote on the Republican ballot. She is trying to stack the deck in her favor allowing only the group of people that gave her the lead before to vote this time. Obama wants to let ALL Michigan voters vote in a fair election. Clinton doesn't want that, she wants to stack it in her favor. That was the arguement being made.

Why not let ALL Michigan's residents vote according to the original rules under Michigan law? What is Clinton afraid of?

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:20 AM)

obama cannot win with his Radical, Anti-American pastor - his background & judgment are far too questionable to be elected President of the UNITED States. IF Obama were so great - he would of knocked her out by now - the media counts her out and the VOTERS Bring Her BACK! Let the race go on - All the people, ALL The states, count FL & MI - Why Not???

molly (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:22 AM)

JanetP,
Just wondering what "danger" Obama represents that is greater than a man who doesn't know the difference between sunni and shiia and who admits he doesn't understand economics? Seriously, what is the "danger" that Obama represents?

Just Wondering (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:22 AM)

I am one of the Dems who will cross over and vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee. Truth is, I don't like any of the three candidates and I have arrived at my pecking order by attempting to measure the danger each of them represents.

I think Obama is clearly the most dangerous, with McCain coming in a close second, and Hillary coming in last.
JanetP (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:16 AM)
________

You have got to be kidding. John McCain will bankrupt this country, destroy our economy, and wipe out our military by continuing this surge indefinately as well as other areas. He's constantly sabre rattling Iran. He is also a constant critic and antagonizer of Russia. He's a war monger and will start other wars. He'll install conservative Supreme Court Justices.

John McCain is a horrible choice for this country. In his economic speech the other day he had NO IDEAS on what to do. He flat out said that he would simply sit back and let what's going on work itself out. That he had no intention of doing anything to help out the ecomony or housing crisis.

I HATE Hillary Clinton with a passion. I think she's a corrupt, power hungry, deceptive, divisive witch. But if it comes down to it, I'll hold my nose and vote for her if I have to.

Her policies are close enough to Obama's that I'd have to vote for her. Her radical ones won't pass anyway. But McCain's policy of doing nothing different will DESTROY this country.

J, OH (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:28 AM)

Having spent many years in Pennsylvania I can tell you that the democratic committee & the ward leaders not endorsing is a VERY BIG DEAL.
The fact that these political leaders know that the state machine is backing Hillary in such a big way as to drop the ball on local races including the state house but will not back this move speaks volumes about the support from the grass roots Obama is enjoying.
This is the first time in almost 50 years that the local machine in Penna is bucking the state machine to this extent.
Now we hear that governor Rendell is attempting to muscle the mayor of Pittsburgh and Allegheny county commissioner through the old "I won't let my national candidate into your market until you do what I say" is laughable.
It appears that the Clinton's, in disrespecting the Casey political family back at the 1992 convention have caused problems in western Penna that the folks in Scranton are willing to forget, (Maybe). This is where Senator Casey's non endorsement is weighing big.

Tom, Tennessee (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:44 AM)

To Bl, Cincinnati OH.. sent thur. March 27, 10:2o AM -- so you think it's only one person in Mich. who wants Re-vote?? "and also you think it's the same (one) person in Florida ALSO?? "please give me a break.)

g.eglesias`~pennsylvania` (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:45 AM)

First she said MI and FL didn't matter. Then she said MI and Fl DO matter. And now she is saying (with the super delegates): Over ride the popular vote, the delegate lead, super delegates should vote their conscience (as long as its in her favor). All the while HRC still claims that MI and FL should have a voice in the election..
I think I've lost track of if she's FOR our votes to count or FOR superdelegates to ignore our vote and pick her...

James, Rockville, MD (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:47 AM)

It should also be noted that Clinton advisor Harold Ickes was a member of the DNC at the time and voted to strip FL and MI of their delegates, saying that he felt he "had an obligation to enforce" the rules.

Brad, Floyd, VA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:54 AM)

To the person calling him/herself "Democrat Voters of Michigan":
I can only conclude that you did not (or could not) read the article about which you are commenting. This is not Obama refusing a re-vote. This is a federal judge saying that the proposed methodology is illegal. Obama has said (repeatedly) that he's open to a re-vote, provided all of the legal issues are taken care of and that party rules are followed (even if those rules must be changed). The problem is that these states broke the rules (even if state Republicans were largely responsible) and the candidates signed on to the DNC decision. Sen. Clinton chose to sign on to these rules, just like Sen. Obama. She's just not as good at following them.
So.......while this article talks about a ruling by a federal judge, all you can do is type in ALL CAPS about how Obama refuses a re-do, while all the other parties say 'GO'. Well, all other parties did not say 'GO'. This is a very complicated legal mess, and won't be resolved just because both candidates would like a do-over. Trivial little things like the federal judiciary (the law) and the DNC (the rules) come into play.
IF TYPING IN ALL CAPS MADE IT TRUE..........WELL, THEN YOU'D BE RIGHT.........but that's not the case, is it?

Brad, Floyd, VA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:55 AM)

BL in Cincinatti isn't saying it's one voter in any state who wants a re-vote, he's saying it's one POSTER who keeps claiming to be from a different state every time.

And as a registered Democrat in Michigan, I place any blame squarely on the shoulders of our state's party officials, certainly not the Obama campaign. I'm not going to lobby for a re-vote (I will, however, lobby for our state party officials to be stripped of superdelegate status), but if we do by some miracle have a re-vote, I'll be glad to cast mine again.

Also, in all this talk of disenfranchisement, why has no one brought up the fact that absentee ballots in Michigan's primary which had a write-in candidate were automatically discarded? The ballot had a slot for a write-in, but actually writing in a name rendered the ballot invalid. Why not lobby to count THOSE votes?

Chris, MI (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:05 AM)

Senator Barack Obama did not create the mess involving Florida and Michigans primaries; therefore, it should NOT be his responsibility to clean it up. All of the Democratic candidates (including Hillary Clinton) agreed the Florida and Michigan primaries were "window dressing" due to the sanctions put upon them by the Democratic National Committee for moving up their primaries. With much respect I submit it is Howard Deans responsibility, members of the Democratic National Committee, the responsibility of the Florida Democratic State Senator who introduced the bill to move the primary up in the first place, and the balance of the Florida state leaders and those in Michigan to clean up this mess.

Here is a partial copy of a transcript from “Fox News Sunday” that aired on Sunday, March 9, 2008, on the Florida primary situation. The following dialogue took place between Brit Hume (sitting in for show host, Mike Wallace), Superdelegate and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Superdelegate Debbie Dingell from Michigan:

“Thanks to both of you for being with us. First let me start with you, Congresswoman. What do you think is the fairest way to settle this question? REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ, D-FLA.: Well, I think when you're talking about fairness, we have to remember that this was started by the Republican-led legislature here that actually set the date of our primary. So the victims here in all of — in the decision by the DNC to strip us of our delegates are Democratic voters in the state of Florida. HUME: Can I stop you there? Just let me stop you there for a second, if I can. WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ: Sure. HUME: In the Florida state senate, who introduced the bill to move the primary forward? WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ: The bill was INTRODUCED BY A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, a new Democratic member of the state senate.”

A Democrat planted the seed that has now grown into a political monstrosity; and Democratic Party leadership (not the candidates) should resolve this.

Nan - Fort Worth, TX (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:05 AM)

WHAT---More Hillbilly supporters using strong arm tatics on Mayors in his state.Ed Rendell thinks he is The king of Pennsylvania.Is this what we want.threats.More of the Clinton slime.Now there big dollar donors have threatening the D.N.C.and Nancy Peiosi to watch what she says about Hillary or they will with hold there contributions to the party.Nancy tell these fat cats to shove there money where the sun don't shine.This is the old school b.s that has no place anymore. OBAMA 08

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:11 AM)

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:12 AM)

Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila, superdelegate and Barack Obama supporter, was charged Thursday with 19 counts in a campaign finance probe, including conspiracy to violate U.S. federal campaign laws and giving false testimony to the FBI.

More change we can believe in!

Matthew, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:14 AM)

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