From The Hotline Latest Edition for Friday, May 9,2008

SUPERDELEGATES

Where's The Fire?

Fri. May 9, 2008


Superdelegates "are the only yardstick by which" Barack Obama still trails Hillary Clinton. But if the trend of the past few days continues, Obama "will soon overtake" Clinton "on this final frontier, a tipping point that could encourage a cascade of endorsements from holdouts and all but seal" the nod. Still, some superdelegates "say they are content to wait out the remaining six contests before placing their bets."

Obama picked up four new superdelegates after the IN and NC primaries; while Clinton picked up one, Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC). Obama has now narrowed Clinton's lead to 13, having "amassed 259 superdelegates, to Clinton's 272" (Sabar, Christian Science Monitor, 5/9).

Meanwhile, "several superdelegates" from IN, PA and OH "are bucking the will of of the people by withholding endorsements from" Clinton "even though she overwhelmingly won their districts." The silence from "dozens of superdelegates who have good reason to back" Clinton amplifies "the near impossibility of her winning" the Dem nod.

Clinton "is making her case that superdelegates should choose her" over Obama because she "has the better chance of winning the presidency." She presents herself as "someone with the ability to win over white, blue-collar workers and notes her wins in swing states" such as OH and PA. The Obama camp, meanwhile, "wrote a letter to superdelegates saying they are free to use their own criteria for deciding whom to support." Obama mgr. David Plouffe, in the letter, said: "If you look at the numbers, during a period where the Clinton campaign has been making an increasingly strident pitch on electability, it is clear their argument is failing miserably with superdelegates." Plouffe also noted that Obama "has netted 107 superdelegates to Mrs. Clinton's 21" since 2/08 (Bellantoni, Washington Times, 5/9).

The Big Fence

While IN's "voters have finally had their say" in the Dem race, three IN superdelegates "are still on the fence." Reps. Pete Visclosky, Joe Donnelly and Brad Ellsworth all said through statements and spokespeople that "they weren't ready to announce decisions." Donnelly: "I do not know on what date I will endorse" (Groppe, Louisville Courier-Journal, 5/9).

10 MD superdelegates "remain unpledged" and "are perhaps hoping they will not need to help determine the party's nominee" (Sedam/Brody, Maryland Community Newspapers, 5/9). But some, such as superdelegate John Gage are "kind of getting itchy" about endorsing a candidate (Witte, AP, 5/8).

Starting to Lean

RI Dems are among Clinton's "strongest supporters," but the "feeling is sinking in that" the Dem nominee is going to be Obama. RI Dem Chair William Lynch: "I'm a Hillary Clinton supporter. But people are now focusing on the fact that it is time to take a deep breath and start focusing on the fact that there is an election in November." More: "Some of us are growing concerned with the demographics of the primary voters and being divided along uncomfortable lines that nobody wants to talk about" (Mackay, Providence Journal, 5/9).

You Go, Girl

OK's "only superdelegate committed to" Clinton said 5/8 that she "should stay in the race until the primaries end" 6/3 to "satisfy herself and her supporters that she did all she could" to win the nod. Clinton suppoert ex-OK Dem Chair/DNCer Betty McElderry: "It's looking a little bleak, but I still have hope." More: "I hope she stays in, I support her staying in, even though it's an uphill battle. But look at all the upsets she's pulled already. If she dropped out now, there would always be what-ifs and there would always be people who would feel she didn't have a fair chance."

The Obama camp is arguing that "superdelegates also look at the popular vote." McElderry "said she sees some merit in looking at the popular vote" and at looking at some "of the key general election states that Clinton won." McElderry: "It's a dilemma" (Casteel, Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman, 5/8).

I'll Always Be There When You Call

NM superdelegate Laurie Weahkee, one of NM's "two remaining uncommitted" superdelegates, says she has "questions" about Clinton's "viability" but adds "that she remains undecided about the contest." Weahkee: "(I'm) really looking to hear from the Clinton campaign as to what their concrete reasons and strategies are for staying in the race." Weahkee is also "still waiting" to her the Dems' "positions on issues important to Native Americans." By 5/8, Weahkee "said she's hadn't received a call from" either camp. Weahkee: "I figured they were super-busy with the Indiana and North Carolina campaigning" (Jones, Albuquerque Journal, 5/9).

Put Me In, Coach

Of the undecided MI superdelegates, three are "leaning strongly Obama's way" and none "said they were moving toward backing Clinton," while many "are outwardly or apparently waiting for more signals or the naming of a nominee" (Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 5/9).