Montana Selects Obama Supporter As Add-On Delegate

Keeping true to the results of the recent primary election in Montana, the Democratic State Party selected an Obama supporter to receive the state's add-on delegate slot to the National Convention.

According to the article:

The final delegate, Anna Whiting Sorrell, of Lake County, elected as an add-on unpledged delegate, said she would support Obama in Denver.

With Sorrell's support, Obama took a clean sweep of the Montana super-delegation, as all eight unpledged superdelegates have endorsed him.

Kentucky Democrats Name Obama Supporter As Add-On Delegate

Senator Obama passed on major test of party unity yesterday when the Kentucky Democratic Party, convening to name the delegates to the National Convention, also selected an Obama supporter as their add-on delegate.

As I noted here, the ability of the Kentucky Democratic Party to nominate an Obama supporter would show how far the state party was willing to unite around the presumpive nominee, despite his overwhelming loss in the state primary to Senator Clinton.

Matthew Barzun, an Obama backer, was named the Kentucky add-on delegate.

In other Kentucky news, three uncommitted Kentucky superdelegates--Governor Steve Beshear, State Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, and Vice-Chairman Nathan Smith--pledged themselves to Senator Obama at the Convention.

Oklahoma Chairman Ivan Holmes for Obama

Another superdelegate comes out for Obama--this one's the Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic State Party.

We're now officially in the area where coordination of superdelegates to hold off on announcements is important so that the pledged delegates from South Dakota and Montana push Obama over the top.

Florida Super Glasser for Obama

I must have missed this one earlier. Florida superdelegate Diane Glasser has endorsed Senator Obama and adds 0.5 delegates to his count.

Two More Supers for Obama Later Today

According to Ben Smith's blog, two more superdelegates are announcing for Senator Obama:

• California congressman Sam Farr
• Maryland DNC member Bel Leong-Hong

It sounds like Farr is announcing tonight, while Hong has already announced.

I swear these new announcements went up as I was hitting the "publish" key just now.

Obama is now 12 delegates away from going over the 2118 mark. Expect the superdelegate flood to calm down for now so that Obama can gain the symbolic victory of the South Dakota and Montana elections putting him over the top. I am assuming the Obama campaign can embargo these announcements until tomorrow at this point.

It will be interesting to see which superdelegate announcement was the magic one. I'll go back and look at the announcement times.

Senator Clinton gains a Florida Super

More from Ben Smith:

In a strange move, Florida superdelegate Jon Ausman, who played a key role in forging the Florida and Michigan compromises in last weekend's Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting that spurned Clinton's demands, declared his support for Clinton.

Not because he feels Clinton is the best candidate, mind you. No, Ausman decided to endorse Clinton because he wants to "send a message that he [Obama] needs to unify our party." Huh?

Ausman didn't make this choice while he felt his endorsement could make an impact, however. Instead, he waited until he heard that Obama had enough votes to put him over the top, so that such a move would be purely symbolic.

Interesting. Score 0.5 delegates for Clinton, but it sounds like Ausman will vote for Obama at the Convention, so I'm not sure exactly how you score this one!

Obama Breaks Clinton Stanglehold on NY Supers

On the day when he is expected to win the Democratic Nomination, Senator Obama gained a major symbolic endorsement from a New York superdelegate, Ralph Dawson.

Dawson had been the subject of speculation earlier in the campaign based on his desire to remain uncommitted despite having been reported to have given $1000 to the Obama campaign, and an undisclosed amount to the Clinton campaign as well.

Of the 46 automatic superdelegates and 3 add-on delegates from Senator Clinton's base of power, New York, all but 3 have endorsed their home Senator. Dawson becomes the second Obama supporter from this huge group, with only Party Leader George Mitchell remaining on the sidelines.

Compare this total to the 31 total (28 automatic, 3 add-on) superdelegates from Illinois, of which 28 have endorsed Obama, none for Clinton, and three undeclared still.

Just a side note to a long campaign in which each candidate had his or her own base of power--in this case Illinois proved more monolithic and stronger than New York, despite previous conventional wisdom.

Remember Margaret Campbell?

She was the Montana DNC Superdelegate who endorsed Obama but then had to retract her endorsement citing State Party rules that do not allow such endorsements during a contested primary.

Senator Obama is favored in the Montana contest. Once that contest goes official tomorrow night, it is expected that Campbell will finally be able to make her announcement publicly.

A Washington State Super for Obama

David McDonald, a Washington DNC member, has announced his support for Senator Obama today.

Of interest is that McDonald was one of the 30-member DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee that decided the fate of Michigan and Florida this past Saturday. McDonald pledged to be neutral until after that decision was made.

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.

Congressman Clyburn Endorses Obama (unofficially)

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn will officially endorse Senator Barack Obama tomorrow during the day.

For now this endorsement is unofficial. However, Rep. Clyburn has already begun calling uncommitted automatic delegates to get them to support Obama and get behind the presumptive nominee.

Rep. Clyburn is considered one of the most powerful voices in Washington and within the Democratic Party. He has been in the news during the primary campaign with calls for Bill Clinton to "chill" when the ex-President was embroiled in race-baiting allegations, and also when Senator Clinton made her RFK assassination comments just two weeks ago.

Superdelegate Endorsements for June 2, 2008

I will just link to Demconwatch for these announcements...it's much easier.

Obama gains 3.5 automatic delegates, Clinton gains 2.0.

Obama: 3.5

Connecticut State Chair Nancy DiNardo (1.0)
Virginia DNC Member Jerome Wiley Segovia (1.0)
Michigan DNC Member Brenda Lawrence (0.5)
Michigan DNC Member Lu Battaglieri (0.5)
Florida DNC Member Janee Murphy (0.5)

Clinton: 2.0

Louisiana State Chair Chris Wittington (1.0)
New York DNC Member Irene Stein (1.0)

Nevada Super Declares for Obama

Yesterday, Yvonne Gates, a Nevada automatic superdelegate and a member of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee, endorsed Senator Obama.

Two Texas Supers for Obama

Husband and Wife team Boyd and Bettie Richie have announced their endorsement of Senator Barack Obama.

Boyd Richie serves as the Texas Democratic Party Chairman and his wife is a DNC superdelegate for the state as well.

The announcement by Mr. Richie at this time bodes well for Senator Obama's prospects in gaining add-on delegates at the Texas state convention in June.

Obama Gains Another WV Super

Despite the shellacking the Obama campaign suffered in the West Virginia primary, Senator Obama picked up yet another superdelegate from the Mountain State.

This time it's Congressman Alan B. Mollahan, who has served as a West Virginia Congressman for a quarter-century.

Mollahan's decision means that Obama has swept the four Congressional superdelegates from West Virginia, adding to the previous endorsements of Senators Rockefeller and Byrd and fellow Congressman Nick Rahall. Senator Clinton has received three endorsements from DNC automatic delegates. West Virginia has three more superdelegates remaining plus the add-on delegate to be decided at the June 14th State Convention.

Mollahan's statement read as follows:

“I believe Senator Obama will bring America a new era of trust, principled leadership and positive results. He has the intelligence, capacity and values that assure me he will confront the real issues that Americans face every day - health care, pension reform, energy prices, the struggling economy, and, of course, the issue of Iraq."

Clinton Gains Washington State Super

Eileen Macoll, a Washington superdelegate, has endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton.

Macoll is the DNC Vice Chairwoman for the Washington State Party. In her announcement she cited her view that Clinton still had a chance for the nomination, and that voting for a female candidate also played a role in her mindset. In a sign that this decision was more cosmetic than aggressive at this point of the race, Macoll also noted that she will support Obama 100% should he be named the Democratic Nominee.

Another Oregonian for Obama

Oregon DNC automatic superdelegate Wayne Kinney has announced his support for Senator Obama.

From Kinney's press release:

Senator Obama wasn’t supposed to be able to get this far. One member of
Congress from Illinois said that for Sen. Obama to win the nomination, he’d have
to be perfect. He’s been pretty damned good. The fact that this nomination is
still inches from being decided is a testament to the abilities of both Sen.
Obama and Sen. Clinton.

While there are a few primaries left to go, it’s now over for Oregon. Sen. Obama won our state by almost 18 points. He is very close to winning a majority of the delegates he needs to be our nominee for President.

But there should be more to my decision than that. After all, we automatic, “super” delegates are not automatons. We are not here to ratify. We’re expected to use our judgment. Here’s mine: After watching Sen. Obama for more than a year, it’s clear that he offers an ability to lead and inspire that’s been sorely lacking in this country.
Senator Obama will win our nomination, and will be our President.

It felt good to write that sentence.

Confirmation of Virgin Islands Super Double Defection

Earlier I posted that there had been rumors that Virgin Islands superdelegate Kevin Rodriguez was reported to have switched from Obama to Clinton, just a few weeks after switching from Clinton to Obama in the first place.

NBC News has now confirmed this defection, so I will now count it in the totals for Senators Clinton and Obama.

Clinton Wins Support of California Super Umemoto

California superdelegate Keith Umemoto pledged his support for Senator Clinton yesterday, according to the Associated Press. I did not see a press release so I don't have more information to share, other than the fact that Umemoto is the DNC Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander American Caucus.

Obama Gains another Superdelegate

Another day, another superdelegate.

Senator Obama received the endorsement of Greg Pecoraro today.

An excerpt of Pecoraro's press release:

Today, I am very excited to join the large majority of Maryland Democrats
who expressed their enthusiasm for Senator Obama’s candidacy in our state's
presidential primary. Like them, I believe Barack Obama is the right leader for
our time. With Barack Obama as our nominee and as our President, we have real
hope that a new way of governing the nation is at hand. I strongly believe
that Senator Obama offers us the best opportunity we have had for many years to
turn away from the politics of division and despair, and look towards an America
of opportunity and progress.