OFFICIAL Endorsements Thread

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

When's the last time Hillary received a new endorsement from a superdelegate? I imagine it's been quite awhile.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

But from this thread it sounds as if she just reiterated her support, not announced it.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Not exactly influencial, but The Daily Texan of the University of Texas at Austin surprisingly endorsed Clinton:

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=8fd2d256-8e07-4410-ada4-472b700786d6&page=2

A student newspaper endorsing Clinton? That's a bit ... strange. How did that happen?

One of their editors is a hardcore feminist?

Doesn't matter though. Newspaper endorsements don't sway people, much less student papers (at least not in major and federal elections, I could see them having an impact for very small local races.)

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) for Obama. Looks as if the endangered Georgia congressmen like the idea of Obama at the top of the ticket.

I'm not sure Barrow is quite as endangered as he may think. Low African-American turnout in 2006 made his district's result as close as it was. Still, given that, it makes sense for him to endorse Obama, who I'd have thought carried his district handidly in the primary

Dave

Right, and if he wants to avoid that low turnout again, who's the best candidate to run at the top of the ticket?

DNC Members Brian Melendez and Donna Cassutt (D-MN) have announced that they will be supporting Obama at the convention, as Obama won Minnesota's caucuses handily.  This is not an endorsement per se, though it is two additional superdelegate votes.

"We both have great confidence in, and respect and enthusiasm for, Senator Obama and the message of change that has resonated so strongly with voters in Minnesota and throughout America. But this announcement is not an "endorsement" in the usual sense, because it doesn't result from our personal judgment about the candidates or their relative merit. (One of us even cast a blank Presidential ballot on Caucus Night.) We also have great confidence in, and respect and enthusiasm for, Senator Clinton, whom we would gladly have supported if she had won the Minnesota caucuses - and will gladly support if she wins the Democratic nomination. We are not joining Senator Obama's campaign, since our loyalty lies first and foremost with the DFL Party itself; and we will not be using either the Party's resources, or our own personal time, energy, or other resources, in promoting his campaign or any other. This announcement simply reflects our desire to let the more than two hundred thousand DFLers who braved a cold winter night, long lines, and bustling crowds on Caucus Night know that their voices were heard and that their Party's heads are honoring their choice."

Link

Tim Walz basically said the same thing. Cool though.

This means Obama has 10 out of 16 Minnesota superdelegate endorsements. Only 3 for Hillary, the last remaining three are Amy Klobuchar and two "add-ons" who'll be selected at the state convention (and thus almost certainly for Obama).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

More bad news for Hillary: The DNC has ruled that superdelegate DNC member Ken Curtis from Maine no longer legally resides in Maine and has moved to Florida. In theory this doesn't affect his superdelegate or DNC status, however since Florida has been stripped of its delegates he has also been stripped of it due to now belonging to the Florida delegation. He's a Hillary supporter, so she just lost another superdelegate. This brings the number of superdelegates down to 794 (usually reported as 796, but the death of Tom Lantos brought it to 795 earlier).

Maine also lost another superdelegate in former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell who has been listed as having moved to New York, but of course he'll still keep his status and be able to vote. And he has not yet endorsed a candidate.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Another superdelegate will be selected tomorrow. The Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee will hold a meeting to choose their "add-on" superdelegate. I don't know enough about who's on the committee to know if they'll go with the state or defy it and pick a Hillary supporter, we'll have to see.

Two other such add-ons have also been chosen, one from Oklahoma and one from DC. The DC one has endorsed Obama while the Oklahoma one is a former Edwards supporter now uncommitted and has not made an endorsement since.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Alabama AFL-CIO President Stewart Burkhalter has been elected as a superdelegate from Alabama. He supports Obama.

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/120440335147910.xml&storylist=alabamanews

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Worth noting: If Bill Foster wins the IL-14 special election on Saturday, Obama gains another superdelegate.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Worth noting: If Bill Foster wins the IL-14 special election on Saturday, Obama gains another superdelegate.

When would he get sworn in?

Every special election winner I've seen so far has been sworn in almost immediately.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Worth noting: If Bill Foster wins the IL-14 special election on Saturday, Obama gains another superdelegate.

When would he get sworn in?

Every special election winner I've seen so far has been sworn in almost immediately.

I remember it being a couple of months for Laura Richardson, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm not sure when the deadline to be a superdelegate is, anyway.

It was two weeks for her. With tons of more delegates to be selected I highly doubt the deadline has passed.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Clinton leads in endorsements from superdelegates, 242 to 209. But that lead has shrunk in the past month. Since an AP survey the week of Super Tuesday, Obama has added 53 superdelegates, while Clinton has had a net loss of one.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_qJGvnOCBQcA/R86YQMmCjzI/AAAAAAAAAGk/EFXfNq0dIBU/s1600/image001.gif

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Clinton leads in endorsements from superdelegates, 242 to 209. But that lead has shrunk in the past month. Since an AP survey the week of Super Tuesday, Obama has added 53 superdelegates, while Clinton has had a net loss of one.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_qJGvnOCBQcA/R86YQMmCjzI/AAAAAAAAAGk/EFXfNq0dIBU/s1600/image001.gif

ERR0R!

That image is weird it frequently doesn't appear for me even when cached.

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

Just look at the line graph a little bit down on the left side.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Obama gets three DNC members, Mary Jo Neville (MD), Joyce Brayboy (NC) and Everett Sanders (MS).

Hillary gets one, Roberto Ramirez (NY).

And she loses one with Spitzer.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

DNC member Melissa Schroeder (WI) has endorsed Obama.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Pelosi has all but endorsed Obama in stating that the superdelegates should not vote against whoever wins pledged delegates and basically pledge to vote for the winner of pledged delegates, which is going to be almost certainly Obama. Her daughter, a DNC member has said the same thing. So those are two more likely superdelegates for Obama though they can't be officially counted until official statements/Obama officially clinches pledged delegates.

Still it's a little frustrating for how long it'll take for Obama to clinch pledged delegates, the soonest he can do it is probably May 20.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Pelosi has all but endorsed Obama in stating that the superdelegates should not vote against whoever wins pledged delegates and basically pledge to vote for the winner of pledged delegates, which is going to be almost certainly Obama. Her daughter, a DNC member has said the same thing. So those are two more likely superdelegates for Obama though they can't be officially counted until official statements/Obama officially clinches pledged delegates.

Still it's a little frustrating for how long it'll take for Obama to clinch pledged delegates, the soonest he can do it is probably May 20.

Bad news week, huh BRTD?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non_sequitur

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Took him long enough. Dan Lipinski endorsed Obama. This leaves heavily Clinton connected Rahm Emanuel as the only member of Illinois' congressional delegation to not endorse Obama.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Connecticut elects Obama supporter Donald E. Williams as it's add-on superdelegate, the State Senate President Pro Tempore and co-chair of Obama's Connecticut campaign. Who's the other co-chair? Ned Lamont.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Hillary:
DNC Susan Burgess

Obama:
Rep. G.K. Butterfield
DNC Everett Ward
DNC Dannie Montgomery
DNC Joyce Brayboy

Undeclared:
Rep. Bob Etheridge
Rep. Mike McIntyre
Rep. Brad Miller
Rep. David Price
Rep. Heath Shuler
Rep. Mel Watt
Gov. Mike Easley
DNC Jerry Meek
DNC Dr. Jeanette Council
DNC David Parker

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Altmire has not officially endorsed Obama, although it appears likely:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/03/29/news/doc47eef55bf16a2585299904.txt

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The WSJ is reporting that Senator Amy Klobuchar will be endorsing Obama tomorrow

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Ha, and he would've gotten nowhere had it not have been for the Clintons. What a wonderful slap in the face! I love it!

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Obama could be picking up quite a few superdelegates in the next couple days. Several add-ons will be chosen:

April 3 - DC - 2
April 5 - DE - 1
April 5 - MO - 2
April 6 - ND - 1

All of these are Obama states so if all follow the state's vote Obama will pick up 6. It's tough to see the two from DC not going Obama (one is already all but chosen though he won't be officially until tomorrow, and he's an Obama supporter). If I'm reading this correctly it sounds like Delaware's are elected by the pledged delegates, so if correct that one should be safe for Obama. North Dakota's is also basically safe for Obama being elected at the Obama supporter-dominated state convention. Missouri however being almost a tie may take a compromise route and appoint one delegate from each candidate or even simply appoint one or both uncommitted. We'll see.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

DC has selected its two add-ons, the guy previously given was NOT one. Two City Council members got it. One supports Obama, the other is a former Hillary supporter now on the fence. From a ward that voted 83% Obama for the record. I think he'll come around.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Missouri and Delaware have chosen their delegates.

Missouri went with future Governor Jay Nixon and state auditor Susan Montee. Montee has endorsed Obama, Nixon has not endorsed anyone as of yet. Delaware chose Obama supporter Rob Carver. +2 for Obama today.