5.13.2008

Delegates don't take the day off, and neither does West Virginia

A lot is happening in the political world -- none more significant than a Clinton pledged delegate announcing he will vote for Obama at the convention -- but I will not be around to blog much today. I will be back this evening when results start trickling in from West Virginia (starting at 7:30pm ET) and Mississippi (starting at 8pm ET). Something tells me West Virginia will be called rather quickly, but it could be a long night in Mississippi's special election.

Just to highlight the fact that delegates aren't taking the day off, here's a quick rundown of today's four new Obama super endorsements bringing him to a net gain of 19 since Friday and of 8 since yesterday, versus a gain of only 1 for Clinton:

  • Rep. Joe Donnelly from Indiana
  • New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (an add-on from Louisiana)
  • Roy Romer, the former governor of Colorado who said that the race "is over" on a n Obama conference call. The Obama campaign typically avoids such absolute statements.
  • Anita Bonds, chair of the DC Democratic Party
And as I mentioned above, a county executive from Prince George in Maryland who has been selected as a Clinton pledged delegate is now saying that the race is over and he cannot not vote for Obama. Not only that but he will try the rest of the delegation to switch to Barack. The WaPo article notes that Jack Johnson was an Obama supporter until December, so I am not sure why the Clinton campaign even selected him. But whatever Johnson's reasons this is certainly a terrible blow to Clinton especially if it becomes the start of a trend.

posted by Taniel at 12:09 PM

3 Comments:

  • I agree that Clinton was foolish to choose Jack Johnson as a Pledged delegate. It isn't just that he was a Obama supporter until december, it's the fact that he is the county executive from one of the three bastions of Democratic (and pro-Obama) support in my home state of Maryland. PG country, with Montgomery country and Baltimore City went for Obama overwhelming and I'm not totally suprised that Johnson would wanna switch over to whom his constiuents voted for, especially since Obama is likely to win the nominatiion. Hopefully the rest of Clinton's Pds come from the rural (and Republican/Pro Clinton) parts of Maryland on the Eastern shore and Western Maryland, as they would be highly unlike to defect to Obama unless Clinton tells them too.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At 13 May, 2008 12:50  

  • I think it's a shame that pledged delegates don't honor their pledge; it makes a mockery of having elected delegates in the first place.

    Then again, it was Clinton who said even pledged delegates can change their minds.

    By Blogger dsimon, At 13 May, 2008 16:51  

  • Regardless of what Clinton said, which was nonsense anyway, in this case, out of fairness, this pledged delegate MUST vote for Clinton. If this whole thing should come to a 2nd ballot (which I doubt), then he can vote as he wishes.

    I am sure the Clinton team would love to press the question of why WV dislikes Obama so much, but for me, this is a real non-sequitor.

    One, giving this kind of probably rhetoric, can just as easily ask why the following states just could not swallow Clinton: VI, ID, HI, DC, AL, KS, WA, NE, CO, GA, MN, DAB and IL. In these thirteen contests, Clinton got LESS than 33% of the vote. And in all 13 of these contests, Obama won with a margin LARGE than 30%.

    How many contests has Clinton won with over 60% of the vote and over a 30% margin (until tonight)?

    One and only one:

    Arkansas.

    That's it.

    One.

    By Blogger Statistikhengst, At 13 May, 2008 17:46  

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