By BARRY MASSEY, Associated Press Writer
SANTA FE, N.M. - March 21, 2008 - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership.
Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Ore., The Associated Press has learned.
The governor's endorsement comes as Obama leads among delegates selected at primaries and caucuses but with national public opinion polling showing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulling ahead of him amid controversy over statements by his former pastor.
Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate.
No primaries are scheduled until Pennsylvania's on April 22, a gap in time Obama hopes to use for such announcements to assert that he is the front-runner for the nomination.
"I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world," Richardson said in a statement obtained by the AP. "As a presidential candidate, I know full well Sen. Obama's unique moral ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation."
Richardson's endorsement also could help Obama pick up support among Hispanics, who are the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority.
Read the full story here.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Obama Cuts Into Clinton's Delegate Lead Among Elected Officials
Note: Normally I would cut this article at the first subhead and link it to Bloomberg's posting. But I had trouble loading the link the first time and had to do a search for the story. So I am posting the article in its entirety here. --Wes
Barack Obama, U.S. senator from Illinois and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign rally in Columbus, March 10, 2008. Photographer: Suzi Altman/Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
By Julianna Goldman and Catherine Dodge
March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama has pulled almost even with Hillary Clinton in endorsements from top elected officials and has cut into her lead among the other superdelegates she's relying on to win the Democratic presidential nomination.
Among the 313 of 796 superdelegates who are members of Congress or governors, Clinton has commitments from 103 and Obama is backed by 96, according to lists supplied by the campaigns. Fifty-three of Obama's endorsements have come since he won the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, compared with 12 who have aligned with Clinton since then.
``That's not glacial, that is a remarkable momentum,'' Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a superdelegate and Obama supporter, said in an interview. ``I don't think there is anything that will slow that down.''
Democratic elected officials have the most at stake in the nomination because the candidate at the top of the ticket in November will have an impact on state and local races.
In the overall race for superdelegates -- elected and party officials who automatically receive votes at the Democratic National Convention that will choose the nominee -- Clinton leads Obama in commitments by 249 to 212, according to an Associated Press tally.
The trend, though, is running against the New York senator. Since March 5, the day after she won primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Obama took Vermont, the Illinois senator has won backing from nine superdelegates and Clinton one, according to the campaigns and interviews.
Obama's Lead
Both sides agree her chance to win the nomination rests on winning a significant majority of superdelegates because Obama is likely to maintain a lead of at least 150 pledged delegates - - those won in primaries and caucuses -- after the last contest is finished. If he does, Clinton, 60, would have to snag more than 70 percent of the remaining 334 or so superdelegates.
Clinton also has suffered defections, notably Georgia Representative John Lewis, a prominent civil-rights leader and early backer of the New York senator, who switched to Obama.
Underlying the movement to Obama, 46, is some politicians' calculation that he'll be the strongest candidate to face Republican Senator John McCain in November.
``All along he has been the one person McCain does not want to run against and that is still true,'' said Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat who endorsed Obama last month.
A Chance in Nebraska
Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Obama, unlike Clinton, stands a chance of winning at least part of his state, which has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1964 and is one of two states that award some presidential electoral votes by congressional district rather than winner-take-all.
``Obama has coattails in Nebraska,'' said Nelson, who endorsed his Senate colleague two months ago. ``Our internal polls show he can win one, possibly two, congressional districts.''
Clinton's advisers contend that most of the uncommitted superdelegates will hold off taking sides until the last 10 primaries and caucuses are held.
``We think the momentum has been stopped, not cold, but very much stopped,'' Clinton adviser Harold Ickes said.
Clinton's aides argue that because she has won big states such as New York, New Jersey, California, Texas and Ohio, she would be the better general-election candidate.
Polls so far show little difference in head-to-head match- ups between McCain, 71, and either Clinton or Obama. Clinton and McCain are tied with 46 percent each, according to an average of national surveys compiled by Pollster.com. Obama would have a 2 percentage-point edge over McCain, a result within the margin of error.
Hillary Clinton, U.S. senator from New York and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign rally in Harrisburg, March 11, 2008. Photographer: Mike Mergen/Bloomberg News
Swing States
The same holds true in Ohio, which Clinton won, and Pennsylvania, where voter surveys say she is leading in the April 22 primary. Polls show Obama does as well or better than Clinton against McCain in those crucial swing states.
In Iowa, a February Des Moines Register poll showed Obama beating McCain 53 percent to 36 percent, while McCain beat Clinton 49 percent to 40 percent.
That is one of the reasons he's won support from governors in Republican-leaning states, including Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Iowa's Chet Culver.
``It comes down to electability in red states like Iowa,'' Culver said this week.
Among pledged delegates, Obama has 1,390 to Clinton's 1,248, AP's unofficial estimate shows. A total of 2,025 delegates is needed for the nomination.
Even if Clinton scores a net gain of 10 delegates in Pennsylvania, Obama can make that up with wins in smaller states such as North Carolina and South Dakota, which vote later.
Feeling Pressure
Meanwhile, superdelegates are being pressured by both sides. Joyce Beatty, the minority leader of the Ohio state legislature, has heard from Clinton; her husband, former President Bill Clinton; their daughter Chelsea; Obama; and his wife, Michelle.
Beatty, the first black female minority leader in Ohio's history, is torn by competing allegiances. While her district in Columbus voted for Obama, Clinton won overwhelmingly statewide.
The toughest pressure she's feeling isn't coming from the campaigns. With a mother who supports Obama and a father who supports Clinton, she will eventually have to choose between her parents.
``I think my mother puts a lot more pressure on me than anyone,'' she said. ``I have to look at her every day.''
To contact the reporters on this story: Julianna Goldman in Washington at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net; Catherine Dodge in Washington, at Cdodge1@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: March 14, 2008 00:01 EDT
See the original story at Bloomberg News
Barack Obama, U.S. senator from Illinois and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign rally in Columbus, March 10, 2008. Photographer: Suzi Altman/Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
By Julianna Goldman and Catherine Dodge
March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama has pulled almost even with Hillary Clinton in endorsements from top elected officials and has cut into her lead among the other superdelegates she's relying on to win the Democratic presidential nomination.
Among the 313 of 796 superdelegates who are members of Congress or governors, Clinton has commitments from 103 and Obama is backed by 96, according to lists supplied by the campaigns. Fifty-three of Obama's endorsements have come since he won the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, compared with 12 who have aligned with Clinton since then.
``That's not glacial, that is a remarkable momentum,'' Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a superdelegate and Obama supporter, said in an interview. ``I don't think there is anything that will slow that down.''
Democratic elected officials have the most at stake in the nomination because the candidate at the top of the ticket in November will have an impact on state and local races.
In the overall race for superdelegates -- elected and party officials who automatically receive votes at the Democratic National Convention that will choose the nominee -- Clinton leads Obama in commitments by 249 to 212, according to an Associated Press tally.
The trend, though, is running against the New York senator. Since March 5, the day after she won primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Obama took Vermont, the Illinois senator has won backing from nine superdelegates and Clinton one, according to the campaigns and interviews.
Obama's Lead
Both sides agree her chance to win the nomination rests on winning a significant majority of superdelegates because Obama is likely to maintain a lead of at least 150 pledged delegates - - those won in primaries and caucuses -- after the last contest is finished. If he does, Clinton, 60, would have to snag more than 70 percent of the remaining 334 or so superdelegates.
Clinton also has suffered defections, notably Georgia Representative John Lewis, a prominent civil-rights leader and early backer of the New York senator, who switched to Obama.
Underlying the movement to Obama, 46, is some politicians' calculation that he'll be the strongest candidate to face Republican Senator John McCain in November.
``All along he has been the one person McCain does not want to run against and that is still true,'' said Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat who endorsed Obama last month.
A Chance in Nebraska
Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Obama, unlike Clinton, stands a chance of winning at least part of his state, which has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1964 and is one of two states that award some presidential electoral votes by congressional district rather than winner-take-all.
``Obama has coattails in Nebraska,'' said Nelson, who endorsed his Senate colleague two months ago. ``Our internal polls show he can win one, possibly two, congressional districts.''
Clinton's advisers contend that most of the uncommitted superdelegates will hold off taking sides until the last 10 primaries and caucuses are held.
``We think the momentum has been stopped, not cold, but very much stopped,'' Clinton adviser Harold Ickes said.
Clinton's aides argue that because she has won big states such as New York, New Jersey, California, Texas and Ohio, she would be the better general-election candidate.
Polls so far show little difference in head-to-head match- ups between McCain, 71, and either Clinton or Obama. Clinton and McCain are tied with 46 percent each, according to an average of national surveys compiled by Pollster.com. Obama would have a 2 percentage-point edge over McCain, a result within the margin of error.
Hillary Clinton, U.S. senator from New York and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign rally in Harrisburg, March 11, 2008. Photographer: Mike Mergen/Bloomberg News
Swing States
The same holds true in Ohio, which Clinton won, and Pennsylvania, where voter surveys say she is leading in the April 22 primary. Polls show Obama does as well or better than Clinton against McCain in those crucial swing states.
In Iowa, a February Des Moines Register poll showed Obama beating McCain 53 percent to 36 percent, while McCain beat Clinton 49 percent to 40 percent.
That is one of the reasons he's won support from governors in Republican-leaning states, including Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Iowa's Chet Culver.
``It comes down to electability in red states like Iowa,'' Culver said this week.
Among pledged delegates, Obama has 1,390 to Clinton's 1,248, AP's unofficial estimate shows. A total of 2,025 delegates is needed for the nomination.
Even if Clinton scores a net gain of 10 delegates in Pennsylvania, Obama can make that up with wins in smaller states such as North Carolina and South Dakota, which vote later.
Feeling Pressure
Meanwhile, superdelegates are being pressured by both sides. Joyce Beatty, the minority leader of the Ohio state legislature, has heard from Clinton; her husband, former President Bill Clinton; their daughter Chelsea; Obama; and his wife, Michelle.
Beatty, the first black female minority leader in Ohio's history, is torn by competing allegiances. While her district in Columbus voted for Obama, Clinton won overwhelmingly statewide.
The toughest pressure she's feeling isn't coming from the campaigns. With a mother who supports Obama and a father who supports Clinton, she will eventually have to choose between her parents.
``I think my mother puts a lot more pressure on me than anyone,'' she said. ``I have to look at her every day.''
To contact the reporters on this story: Julianna Goldman in Washington at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net; Catherine Dodge in Washington, at Cdodge1@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: March 14, 2008 00:01 EDT
See the original story at Bloomberg News
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
California Primary Recount Adds Delegates to Obama Column
Confirmed: Obama Did Gain Delegates From California Vote Count
TPM Election Central
By Eric Kleefeld - March 11, 2008, 12:23PM
We've just confirmed with the California Democratic Party that reports in the blogosphere, which said that Barack Obama picked up additional delegates from the vote count in California, are correct.
Election Central spoke to Bob Mulholland, campaign adviser to the California Dems, and he confirmed that the delegate estimates for the California primary have been revised from the initial media estimates.
To put this in perspective, over one-million votes were yet to be counted when the media estimates were first made. Those estimates had Hillary at 207 delegates to Obama's 163. The new projection: A small alteration to Hillary 203, Obama 167, which Mulholland said is not expected to change when the election is officially certified this Saturday.
TPM Election Central
By Eric Kleefeld - March 11, 2008, 12:23PM
We've just confirmed with the California Democratic Party that reports in the blogosphere, which said that Barack Obama picked up additional delegates from the vote count in California, are correct.
Election Central spoke to Bob Mulholland, campaign adviser to the California Dems, and he confirmed that the delegate estimates for the California primary have been revised from the initial media estimates.
To put this in perspective, over one-million votes were yet to be counted when the media estimates were first made. Those estimates had Hillary at 207 delegates to Obama's 163. The new projection: A small alteration to Hillary 203, Obama 167, which Mulholland said is not expected to change when the election is officially certified this Saturday.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Barack: I Am Running for President, Not VP
Excuse me, Billary, you wouldn't be trying to pull the old okeydoke on us now, would you? Naw.....
Monday, March 10, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Monster Mash!
Just for the fun of it, I think we should make the word "MONSTER!" the new shibboleth of our political present and future.
Poor Samantha Power. She channeled all of our rage and had to resign, but in the end she made it okay for all of us to scream at once what we've been feeling inside: "Monster! Hillary Clinton is a MONSTER!"
Hillary and her once-beloved Husband (I won't speak his name aloud any longer), for many years have comprised the vision of the "anti-Bush" that so many Americans (and not just Democrats) looked back to like a shimmering blue and green oasis in the barren, dessicated desert that had spread out all around us like a granulating cancer under a glowering sky.
All at once, in the space of two nightmarish months, our golden pair of heroes morphed into hissing, sharp-fanged political MONSTERS in the face of competition from a quiet, beautifully spoken man of true integrity and elegant bearing, a man no one had expected, especially the Clintons.
Hideous green vapors of jealousy waft from Hillary's skin every time she looks at Obama when they are together for their so-called "debates." Flustered and tongue-tied, she can't seem to believe that people heckle her stubborn, tone-deaf and petulant complaints about Obama. She only looks more pathetic every time I see her. I want to vomit, honestly.
Well, that's it. Now I've relieved myself. Move along, please. Nothing to see here. Except perhaps how much I'm really beginning to hate Hillary.
Hiss!
Here's a summary on Huffington Post of La Samantha Power "Monster!" Affair.
Poor Samantha Power. She channeled all of our rage and had to resign, but in the end she made it okay for all of us to scream at once what we've been feeling inside: "Monster! Hillary Clinton is a MONSTER!"
Hillary and her once-beloved Husband (I won't speak his name aloud any longer), for many years have comprised the vision of the "anti-Bush" that so many Americans (and not just Democrats) looked back to like a shimmering blue and green oasis in the barren, dessicated desert that had spread out all around us like a granulating cancer under a glowering sky.
All at once, in the space of two nightmarish months, our golden pair of heroes morphed into hissing, sharp-fanged political MONSTERS in the face of competition from a quiet, beautifully spoken man of true integrity and elegant bearing, a man no one had expected, especially the Clintons.
Hideous green vapors of jealousy waft from Hillary's skin every time she looks at Obama when they are together for their so-called "debates." Flustered and tongue-tied, she can't seem to believe that people heckle her stubborn, tone-deaf and petulant complaints about Obama. She only looks more pathetic every time I see her. I want to vomit, honestly.
Well, that's it. Now I've relieved myself. Move along, please. Nothing to see here. Except perhaps how much I'm really beginning to hate Hillary.
Hiss!
Here's a summary on Huffington Post of La Samantha Power "Monster!" Affair.
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