02.28.08 Not Every African-American Superdelegate Will Switch to Obama

Recent trends might suggest that superdelegates across the country will be coming on board the Obama train, especially if the superdelegate is an African-American and represents a district that voted for Obama.

Rep. Diane Watson of California is one such superdelegate, but she has no plans of switching. This in spite of intense pressure to follow the lead of Rep. Lewis of Georgia.

I’ve gotten threatening mail,” Watson said. “They say, ‘Your district went 61-29 Obama and you need to change.’ But I don’t intimidate. I can hold the ground. … I would lose my seat over my principles.”

02.28.08 Another Superdelegate Switch to Obama

Houston state Rep. Thompson, also a superdelegate, has switched her support from Clinton to Obama. She's an African-American woman and one of the longest-serving Democrats in the Texas state House.

02.28.08 And Then There Were 794

The world today mourns the loss of one more superdelegate to the Democratic convention. Ken Curtis, former Gov. of Maine but actually a resident of Florida, has lost his vote at the convention. As a Florida resident, and therefore as part of that delegation, his vote will not be counted.

02.27.08 Lewis Endorses Obama & Abandons Clinton

Finally, Rep. John Lewis has actually, as officially as super delegates get, endorsed Obama. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the news:

"I did it because I felt I had to support Mrs. Clinton because of our friendship," Lewis said. "But also I thought she was ready to lead. Lewis had placed a called to Clinton's office Wednesday morning but hadn't heard back from her. He also had a Please-Return-The-Call message of his own from Obama. By midday, he still hadn't returned it.

"It's been a long, hard and difficult struggle to come to where I am now," Lewis said.

02.27.08 North Dakota Senator Dorgan Endorses Obama

North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan announced his support of Obama during a conference call with reporters today.

We both believe in trade and plenty of it, we just believe the rules need to be fair.

02.26.08 Dodd Endorses Obama

In Cleveland today, Connecticut Senator and former Presidential candidate Chris Dodd formally endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President.

This is a moment of unity in our country, a time when we need to come together as the Democratic Party and get behind a candidacy that expresses the hopes, aspirations and ambitions of million and millions of Americans.

02.26.08 Obama Gets 2 Shadow US Senators from DC

Two more DC Superdelegates go Obama's way.

Paul Strauss said:

I am excited to endorse Barack Obama today. Barack Obama has been a leader for promoting unity and equality for all Americans, and has shown a steadfast commitment to the DC voting rights and full representation in Congress.

Michael Brown said:

I wholeheartedly give my endorsement to Senator Barack Obama with the audacious hope that the change he brings to America will include the full restoration of rights to the 600,000 good citizens of the District of Columbia. I proudly stand with my constituents in supporting his candidacy and pledge my assistance to help him win the nomination of our party and become the next President of the United States.

02.26.08 DNC Superdelegate list

I thought I'd upload and link to the DNC's latest superdelegate list by state.

02.26.08 Politico List Misses Obama Superdelegate

The otherwise lovely superdelegate list over at Politico misses Jack Billion's endorsement of Obama that was covered by the Rapid City Journal on Feb 16th. Billion is the chairman of the South Dakota state Democratic party.

The Journal had this to say:

Jack Billion, Democrat, Obama. Billion, chairman of the state Democratic party, said choosing a candidate is "a gradual process of looking at people and how they conduct their campaign and what issues are important to them ... Obama has a certain appeal."

Of course, we got it right.

02.26.08 Lewis May Back Obama Soon

There's yet another Lewis endorsing Obama rumor floating around, again with no confirmation from Rep. Lewis himself.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has his minister saying:

The Rev. Joseph Lowery said Tuesday he expects John Lewis to formally declare his support for Barack Obama, perhaps today.

Lowery, like Lewis a veteran of the civil rights movement, said he spoke with Lewis in the past few days and said the Georgia congressman was set to make an announcement today. Lowery said he "assumes" Lewis will announce his support of Obama.

02.23.08 Obama Picks Up 27 Superdelegates in Past 2 Weeks

Time has the story about the bandwagon and its jumpers. Clinton, during this same period, lost the support of 2 superdelegates.

“I think it’s very important for us to play a role around bringing the party together around the candidate that people have chosen….”

02.23.08 Richardson Dishes On Clinton & Obama Efforts

Mark Leibovich in the New York Times has Richardson straight-talking about efforts to secure his endorsement.

Mr. Richardson took a half-hour call from Bill Clinton on Tuesday and received about 10 others — a typical day — from people calling “on behalf of Hillary”: former cabinet secretaries, mutual friends, elected officials. “Heavyweight types,” Mr. Richardson calls them.

Mr. Obama’s approach is like “a surgical bomb,” he said, while “the Clintons are more like a carpet bomb.”

“I want to make it clear that I’m not annoyed by any of this,” Mr. Richardson said of the repeated overtures.

02.22.08 Obama Nabs Mass. Superdelegate Endorsement

This morning, the Obama campaign announced and the Boston Globe reports that Obama has the support of DNC member from Massachusetts Margaret Xifaras. Xifaras was previously undecided.

02.20.08 Obama Gains 5 While Clinton Loses 2

The Clinton campaign continues to bleed super delegates. Today, they lost New Jersey DNC member Dana Redd and Illinois DNC member John Rednour. Both had previously been featured on the Hillary Clinton campaign website HillaryClinton.com.

Additionally, Obama picked up the super delegate support of New Jersey DNC member Donald Norcross and Pennsylvania DNC member Carol Ann Campbell. He also won the support of Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin.

02.19.08 Clinton Gains 4 Endorsements, Obama Picks Up 3

Clinton Endorsers:
Pennsylvania DNC member Ronald Donatucci
Rhode Island DNC member Frank Montanaro
Rhode Island DNC member Edna O’Neill Mattson
Rhode Island DNC member Grace Diaz

Obama Endorsers:
Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas
D.C. DNC member Anna Burger
Illinois DNC member Darlena Williams-Burnett

02.16.08 Clinton & Obama Each Grab One Superdelegate Today

Clinton attracted the support of West Virginia DNC member Marie Prezioso.

Obama attracted the support of South Dakota DNC member Jack Billion.

02.15.08 Obama Gains 8 Superdelegates, Clinton Nets 3

There was a lot of news and rumor today that legendary civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta had switched from Clinton to Obama. Such a move would have signaled a mass migration of superdelegate switchers was about to begin. His spokeswoman, however, later denied the switch. The day's updates after the jump.

Read the full entry »

02.14.08 Obama Gains 3 While Clinton Nets 2

Obama picks up 3 new endorsements today. Montana DNC member Ed Tinsley and Tennessee DNC member Will Cheek endorsed Obama, while New Jersey DNC member Christine Samuels switched from Clinton to Obama.

Clinton actually picked up 5 endorsements today. New York DNC member Herman Farrell, Jr., Pennsylvania DNC members Marcel Groen, Ian Murray, and Ruth Rudy and Tennessee DNC member Jimmie Farris all announced their support of Senator Clinton today. She, however, lost the aforementioned support of Christine Samuels as well as two others. Minnesota DNC member Nancy Larson and Pennsylvania DNC member Sophie Masloff both switched from support for Clinton to undecided. That left Clinton with a net of 2 superdelegate endorsements for the day.