The Curious Case of Kevin Rodriguez -- A Clinton Plant?

When Kevin Rodriguez (Virgin Islands) initially switched his superdelegate endorsement from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, there was hardly an arched eyebrow, as the Virgin Islands handed Senator Clinton the worst defeat (89.9% - 7.6%) in the primary season and actually held her under the viability threshold of 15%, thus giving Obama all 3 of the Virgin Islands' pledged delegates.

Rodriguez' switch seemed to follow along with the three other Virgin Islands superdelegates that had endorsed Obama, including Carole Burke on the same day.

Then came word that Rodriguez had switched back suddenly to Senator Clinton's column. This development was met with suspicion and surprise, as Rodriguez had given not more than two weeks prior a glowing reason for his switch from Clinton to Obama.

While I have great respect for Senator Clinton, today I am announcing my support
for Barack Obama. Senator Obama has brought a new generation and energy
into the democratic process and the Democratic Party.

He has shown he can connect with Democrats, Republicans and Independents across this country, whether we live on the mainland or an island. Senator Obama’s judgment to lead, courage to tell the truth and commitment to working men and women make him the best candidate to lead this country forward.

When asked at the time why he switched back, Rodriguez could only offer the following, according to the Associated Press:

"I decided to switch because that's my right," he told The Associated Press on
Wednesday. "I don't want to say why I decided. It's not about me ... It's about
America and what's best for America."

Rodriguez' switch triggered concern from the Virgin Islands DNC Chair Cecil Benjamin at the time, who offered his thoughts on why the double-switch might have occurred:

"At this desperate crunch time, anything should be expected, especially when political persuasions, promises and offers are made," said Cecil Benjamin,
adding that he had no proof that Rodriquez was being pressured to change his
vote.

"I'm disappointed," he said. "I believe that we must stand by our convictions."

Now comes word that Senator Clinton is making an aggressive pitch that she will not only court undeclared superdelegates, but also superdelegates committed to Senator Obama. So far 13 superdelegates have switch from Clinton to Obama, while only one--Rodriguez--has switched from Obama to Clinton (although technically Rodriguez was a double-switch).

The case for superdelegates switching their mind has already been made 14 times now--the trick is for Clinton to get those switches to be from Obama to her campaign.

Surprise, surprise.

The poster child that Senator Clinton is showing off as an 'example' of such a switch is the very Kevin Rodriguez whose double-switch left plenty of puzzled and skeptical friends and colleagues.

“One thing about superdelegates is they can change their minds,” Clinton told a gaggle of reporters in the aisle of the plane. “With us in the front of the cabin is a superdelegate who went from me to Sen. Obama and now is back with me, in the course of, you know, a matter of weeks.”

A campaign spokeswoman later informed the cabin that the superdelegate she was referring to is Kevin Rodriguez, a DNC member from the Virgin Islands, who was accompanying her on the flight from San Juan. The campaign had previously announced his support. “I think it’s only now that we’re finishing these contests that people are going to actually reflect on who is our stronger candidate. And I believe I am. And I’m going to make that case,” Clinton said.

I hate to be cynical, but let's get real.

Kevin Rodriguez supported Clinton in March, after the Virgin Islands had already voted on February 9th by a near 90%-8% margin for Senator Obama. Rodriguez was not afraid then to stand against his constituents and colleagues in the Virgin Islands DNC and support Clinton over Obama.

Then we get into May, and Senator Clinton starts to realize that her only chance of victory is to start a superdelegate defection flood from Obama to her campaign.

Suddenly this stalwart supporter (and might we add, insulated from mainland politics and pressure and accountability) chooses to endorse Obama glowingly in May, and then two weeks later when Clinton desperately needs someone, anyone, to be her example of a superdelegate switching from Obama to Clinton...Rodriguez suddenly defects again!?

Rodriguez gets Class-A treatment from the Clinton campaign, is paraded along the campaign, flown around everywhere, and all he has to do is stand there as the lone example of a Obama defection.

When he was never an Obama supporter to begin with, but rather a Clinton supporter for all but two weeks of his time as a declared superdelegate?

This smells like a set-up.

And it is not beyond the Clintons to plant a loyal superdelegate into the Obama camp just to create a "defection" that they can then use as a Hail Mary representation of how superdelegates might switch from Obama to Clinton after the primary season is over.

This wouldn't be the first time the Clinton campaign has tried to "plant" someone to make them look better and drive the conversation, as this article and this article demonstrate.

Unfortunately for Clinton, this defection she is using for her example shows how desperate her position is, because Rodriguez carries zero credibility among the superdelegates as a whole, particularly among the elected officials already supporting Obama.

No elected official is going to pick Obama, and then defect to Clinton, and risk being alienated from the incoming Administration if Obama as the presumptive nominee is elected.

If Clinton could show off someone like a Joe Andrew, perhaps, who as a former DNC National Chairman and fervent commitment that might have some weight behind it.

But not someone like Rodriguez who clearly comes off as tainted and bought for his double-switcheroo.