Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement

Movementarian · 05-10-2008, 05:31 AM

Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement
By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Writer
Fri May 9, 11:28 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates who are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain. Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us. And we think that ultimately that should be the strongest measure of who's the nominee," Obama told reporters in Woodburn, Ore.

Clinton also gained two superdelegates.

The developments left the former first lady with 272.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.

Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.

In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."

In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration.

So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE, who is also a superdelegate.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.

"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians.

"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.

Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.

In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,698 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it.

Clinton's new supporters were Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa., and Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas.

Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.

Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

Source: Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement - Yahoo! News

Movementarian · 05-10-2008, 05:34 AM

I have to admit that this bothers me a little bit. AFGE is too diverse to throw it's support behind one candidate and having the AFGE President as a superdelegate in the Democratic Party seems wholly inappropriate.

ranchhound · 05-10-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Movementarian

I have to admit that this bothers me a little bit. AFGE is too diverse to throw it's support behind one candidate and having the AFGE President as a superdelegate in the Democratic Party seems wholly inappropriate.

This bothers me as well. How can the AFGE President say AFGE supports Obama? I dont remember giving AFGE my two cents on the subject. Unless Im mistaken, in the past they put out a news letter saying who they suggest to support but dont declare it.

jafish · 05-10-2008, 06:38 AM

f**k Obama and f**k Billary, oh yeah, f**k the Democratic Party.

Oops, I forgot, f**k the AFGE for supporting Obama!!

Tommyguns · 05-10-2008, 08:12 AM

I am all about Union but i will never vote for Hillary or Obama. I am thinking about dropping out of the union over this if this is where we are headed.

Craven Moorehead · 05-10-2008, 08:44 AM

Obama will be the saviour of our country.

I used to be a Republican. However, I have come to the conclusion that most people are simply too stupid to live in a free scociety. I think I will embrace communisim. Communisim is the only way!

If you did'nt know already........that was sarcasim!

bop_steward · 05-11-2008, 12:59 AM

I know I have been working a lot of doubles lately, but did I miss Osama getting the Democratic nomination? I remember seeing a slogan that read AFGE not for sale. I guess the stipend to that is...unless you have a lot of money! Shame on John Gage and AFGE for being so pompous as to tell people where my vote goes, so much for a secret ballot, I guess everyone will know now!

Devenshack · 05-11-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranchhound

This bothers me as well. How can the AFGE President say AFGE supports Obama? I dont remember giving AFGE my two cents on the subject. Unless Im mistaken, in the past they put out a news letter saying who they suggest to support but dont declare it.

well reacharound, lol,
you gave them your 2cents alright, they take more than from you every month if you pay your dues... lol
Its one of those things, they will never back a Republican right now, and Obama seems to have hillary beat so they picked him...

canada just seems to get better looking every day though.

ranchhound · 05-11-2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devenshack

well reacharound, lol,

Keep it up Devenshack and I will need to change my name, lol.

Custodian · 05-11-2008, 03:30 AM

To be honest, both of the dominating political organizations are privately owned. These "delegates" [be they: super, mega, hyper, ultra... whatever] don't even have to vote the will of the people. Even though their vote is thousands of times stronger than yours.

SO WHAT'S THE FRIGGIN' POINT?

McCain is a Republican but not really a conservative. And the other two, who are still duking it out (dunno why, you know they are going to join forces later just to win at all costs [check out Kennedy & Johnson, same type of relationship; they are just using the same democrat playbook]. Not to mention I don't even know of a word that is more detrimental than liberal, heh, I lied, I think the word is criminal. Where is all the promises from the democrat congress they made when they returned to office? Oh yeah, gone with the wind & spending like a sadistic, drunk ex-wife with her ex's uranium card. Obama & Hillary+Bill [Clinton squared] hate the Second Amendment & for that they should both be shot on national television (C-SPAN would be nice, needs the ratings boost, either that or the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, since its government owned too) for treason alone.

Seriously? Right now, If I could I would vote for a Ross Perot/Ron Paul ticket.

Finally, the only reason Obama Hussein fever (as I remember anyways) caught on was because he put his name across the chest of some young, lush women with threateningly huge milk cannons.