Texas Two-Step: Clinton Add-On Endorses Obama

Earlier I had posted that there was a lot of delicate maneuvering in how the add-on delegates from Texas would be apportioned, with the complicating factors of the traditional spot for the AFL-CIO head being amplifed by the fact that this year that head is the first female ever selected for the spot, and also a big Hillary Clinton supporter.

I also cautioned that "Moeller's official vote at the National Convention is not known for sure," because we didn't know the terms of the compromise in place to allow her to go to the National Convention.

Now it turns out that Becky Moeller has embraced the call for unity and has come out clearly for Obama and can be counted as an Obama superdelegate.

BurntOrangeReport deserves a lot of kudos for their outstanding work covering the primary, delegates, caucuses and now state convention.

From Moeller's press statement:

“I am confident an AFL-CIO endorsement in the presidential contest will arrive before long, but today I am personally and independently urging Democrats, union
members and open-minded independents across Texas to rally around Barack Obama’s historic campaign for the presidency.”

“Hillary Clinton’s candidacy made a permanent mark on American political history. As a union activist and as a woman who has fought to break glass ceilings in my career, I joined millions of Americans who saw in Hillary the path to a better, more just society. Democrats in both camps worked to our utmost abilities in this campaign, and it is a tribute to Sen. Obama that he became the presumptive nominee against competition that touched a chord with so many Americans.”

“Now is the time to look at the bigger picture and unite. The issues facing our nation are too important and the gap between the candidates too great to let even the greatest of political primary struggles linger. Sen. Obama has shown he, too, can lead us to a better, more just society. I thank Ron Kirk and all the Obama campaign
officials in Texas for declaring that from here on, all Democrats are invited to walk together toward victory in November. At this new juncture, I proudly, wholeheartedly and optimistically support Barack Obama for president.”

“A new future is at hand for America. We know the path to positive change and we know the path to more of the same. By coming together around Barack Obama’s candidacy, Democrats will write the next chapter in an election for the ages and in the history of our great nation."

Texas Names Its Three Add-On Delegates -- 2 for Obama, 1 for Clinton

And they are Becky Moeller, Ron Kirk and Molly Beth Malcolm.

There was a bit of a controversy brewing yesterday when it was reported by bloggers that the Obama campaign might not give Moeller, the first female head of the AFL-CIO for Texas, her traditional spot as an add-on delegate for Texas because she was a Clinton supporter.

As a result of compromise, Obama picks up two add-on delegates and Clinton one, although Moeller's official vote at the National Convention is not known for sure.

Kirk is the former Dallas Mayor and major Obama supporter in Texas, and Malcolm was a Texas state party chairwoman and current Obama supporter.

Even though Obama did not get a pure three-delegate sweep, he did strike a strong note for party unity by ensuring that a major Clinton supporter, a major Labor member, and the first female head of the AFL-CIO was invited to the Convention as well. Shunning her from the spot would have caused much more damage than any strength any extra supporter would have provided, plus it might have given Texas women Democrats a reason to back away from Obama.