RECENT POSTS
- White House State Dinner Party Crashers
- Obama to Lay Out Emissions Goals in Copenhagen
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
- White House State Dinner – Who Made the Exclusive Guest List?
- Admiral Mike Mullen To Geneva for START Talks
- VP Biden to Indian Prime Minister: “You’re the Hottest Ticket in Town”
- FLOTUS on the State Dinner: Like a Swan, "Calm and Serene Above Water, But We're Paddling Like Mad, Going Crazy Underneath"
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Reid, Pelosi, Dean May Push Uncommitted Superdelegates to Decide No Later than July 1
April 24, 2008 3:31 PM
At a press conference Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that he, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean would push uncommitted superdelegates to announce their presidential choice no later than July 1.
"The three of us, we may write a joint letter, we might do individual letters," he said, referring to letters to be sent to superdelegates after the primary process ends, urging them to announce a presidential preference. "We are in contact with each other. What we will do, unless something comes up, we'll do it together."
The three Democratic leaders have made no bones about the fact that they do not want the contest to continue through the summer to be resolved during a messy Democratic convention floor fight in August.
Reid's deadline is significant because Sens. Hillary Clinton's argument to superdelegates depends upon the contests in Florida in Michigan counting.
Those states were stripped of their delegates after they defied the DNC and held their contests early; candidates did not compete there and Obama's name was not even on the ballot in Michigan. Clinton won both states handily, and her argument to superdelegates depends upon those contested primaries having some resolution so she can come closer to Obama's lead in pledged delegates and continue her argument that only she won larger swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio that Democrats need to win to recapture the White House.
But the Florida and Michigan issue will not likely be settled by July 1, the day that the DNC Credentials Committee assumes control over the convention from the Rules Committee.
"People will have plenty of opportunity after the last primary on June 2 to make a decision about what they are going to do," Reid added today. “I've said for several weeks now that this matter will be over by some time in June but no later than the first of July. I still believe that that’s the case.”
The Nevadan said that superdelegates were coming off the fence, adding that he'd met with the Democratic chairmen of Senate Committees the day before, where "one of the chairmen said 'I'm going to make my decision pretty soon,' so I feel comfortable where we are."
And will Reid endorse a candidate?
"I might have to," Reid said.
- jpt
April 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (257)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
joyfullyyors the Okla. Gov was on CNN tonight and said he was endorsing Obama. Asked how he could go against his states voters who voted 55 to 31 for Hillary. He said as a superdel. he had to vote the way he felt was best. Doesn't this take away the argument that Obama has the numbers.
Posted by: roncraw | Apr 25, 2008 9:05:25 PM
My fear is that neither Obama or Clinton can win this thing. Mitt Romney noted when he dropped out that the election was never about him it was about the party and the country. I thought he was a class act when he said that. Clinton will NEVER drop out, because this whole thing has always been about her and her ambition. Obama surprised her and Bill by actually being a credible candidate that appeals to voters. The were so surprised that Hillary was not the shoe in she thought she was. People this is bigger than anyones ego here. Obama is ahead and has been ahead all along. All she is doing is making it impossible for us Democrats to win in November. I say the Super Delegates should be forced to choose right now. Enough of this garbage.
Posted by: joyfullyurs | Apr 25, 2008 9:00:35 PM
This is not racist,its facts. Obama hasn't won the white vote since Feb 19.
Posted by: roncraw | Apr 25, 2008 9:00:16 PM
I hope the democratic party has learned their lesson to not let anyone run for the presidency as a democrat without being fully vetted. Obama would NEVER have won in the states that he did if his poor judgement for 20 years had been revealed prior. Now the AA community has their hopes up for someone who can never win. The AA community will see it as a racist thing when it is totally due to only one AA's lack of judgement--Barack Obama. The AA's deserve a president, but not this one.
Posted by: jkr | Apr 25, 2008 7:17:33 PM
Let me go on record to say, Hillary was not the only senator to vote for the war. Numerous senators did. Obama did not vote for the war but voted for the funding. Same thing. Who is he kidding. Obama is usally absent when he knows a bill is going to be issued so he can I wasn't there. Congress should hold up the voting until he is there. He is cunning, a liar, fake and will not win the nomination for president.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Apr 25, 2008 7:12:03 PM
There will be two more Ads running against Obama by two different organizations stating about him what was not on the news. I already what they are and believe me they are doozies. Its looks like there are some intelligent people around that are wise to Obama and his lies, his close ties to Farrakhan, Ayers, Ayres and the racist pastor Wright. I am surprised at the white people for voting for Obama. I gather are they anti-american also like Obama is?
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Apr 25, 2008 7:07:07 PM
BKMC: Your are so wrong as usual. You say any dumb statement that comes into your head. Of course Dean is going to seat MI that's why their getting their delegates ready. You must be boozing if you didn't read that. FL I don't know. Obama is afraid of these states being seated because Hillary will beat him in the popular vote. If he is sure of himself why would he care. That's because he is afraid he will lose the nomination and believe me he would.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Apr 25, 2008 7:02:30 PM
Swifty: You must be taking what Obama took in his college days. No way is he going to win the nomination because Hillary will capture it and leave Obama in the dust where he belongs. He is nothing but a liar,fake and racist. He shouldn't even be campaigning for the presidency of this country. If Hillary doesn't win the nomination I hope all ov Hillary's voters for for McCain and leave Obama hanging.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Apr 25, 2008 6:53:55 PM
The superdelegates need to give a FAIR look at the true population stats and realize that Obama is unelectable in the GE!!! The caucus system does not count thousands of seniors and people unable to get off work to attend a lot of these caucuses. There are thousands of uncounted HRC votes out there - not to mention FL & MI. These states will ALL count in the general election. We also need to see OBAMA DEBATE HRC AGAIN so that we can get more of those character questions answered and to see if Obama has the debating skills to stand up to McCain in the GE. GET REAL DNC AND GET US AN ELECTABLE CANDIDATE - AT LEAST DEMAND THAT OBAMA DO ANOTHER DEBATE TO PROVE THAT HE IS WORTHY TO BE POTUS!!!!
Posted by: fairsuperdelegates08 | Apr 25, 2008 6:51:33 PM
jbate: But Obama canot win the major battleground states and those are important if the Dems are going to take backthe white house. He will not win them in a general election. Get real. They don't want him now or never otherwise they would have voted for him. If he wins the nomination the Dems will lose for sure. He is ready to be president of this country and I wouldn't vote for him if he needed my one vote to win. I would make him lose. He is a liar, fake and copycat.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Apr 25, 2008 6:48:59 PM
11 more days and Hillary is effectively over. Thank God. I am ready to tune out on this race. How about you all?
Go Obama
Posted by: billy smith | Apr 25, 2008 6:33:16 PM
Its becoming increasingly clear that what's delaying many superdelegates from making their choice (of candidate)clear is fear of retaliation from and conflict with the Clintons. This is sad. I didnt realize that a person (or group of persons) could bully their way into the U.S. presidency. Apparently they can. We'll find out for sure soon.
Posted by: Mike Denhof | Apr 25, 2008 5:53:03 PM
Addition to what the superdelegates should be concerned about.
Anyone see the ads the gop are running in NC and Washington?
Like I said, the GOP has figured it out. Guilt by association!!!
WAKE UP DEMOCRATS!
Posted by: disgusted in Illinois | Apr 25, 2008 4:23:06 PM
What the superdelegates better fear is being associated with obama's laundry list of associates.
The GOP has figured it out, and they are going to use it against every democrat (who supported Obama) running in state elections.
I am amazed that Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Dean, and Mr. Reid are too dumb to see that little possiblity. They seem hell bent on destroying the democratic party, and the superdelegates for their left wing extremist - Mr. Obama.
Posted by: disgusted in Illinois | Apr 25, 2008 4:10:21 PM
Its becoming increasingly clear that what's delaying many superdelegates from making their choice clear is fear of retaliation and conflict with the Clintons. This is sad. I didnt realize that a person could bully their way into becoming the president of the United States. Apparently they can.
Posted by: Mike Denhof | Apr 25, 2008 4:00:08 PM
Obama won the most number of delegates;
Obama won the most number of states won;
Obama won the most popular votes;
Obama won all of the caucuses:
Obama won in every demographic;
Clinton is leading in number of lies told.
FIGURES DON'T LIE BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE
OBAMA 08
Posted by: jbate | Apr 25, 2008 3:57:35 PM
Anyone that questioned Hillarys vote for the war should read Hagels book. He wrote"I voted for the resolution based on the presidents's assurances that he would do everything possible to find a dipomatic solution before going to war" Just what Hillary has been saying all along.Hagel said he now regrets his vote.
Posted by: roncraw | Apr 25, 2008 3:49:48 PM
molly, something needed to be done to stop the states from moving their primaries up, otherwise we would have been voting at Thanksgiving or Halloween. RNC chopped the delegates in half, DNC got rid of all the delegates. Either way, the democrats in FL had no choice. FL & MI will be taken care of at the convention with equal delegates, but you can't count them now. I think that Hillary or Obama would destroy mcmore-war in the Fall. No party has held onto the white house during a recession year. Obama 2008!
Posted by: pt | Apr 25, 2008 3:45:10 PM
pt, if the republicans in Fl were responsible, which I knew, why would the DNC punish the delegates. I just don't understand since dems had nothing to do with it
Posted by: molly | Apr 25, 2008 3:32:47 PM
Neo, you need to get your facts straight. The DNC had no choice in FL, the republican controlled state moved the primary up illegally knowing what the rules were. (This is the second time the republicans have screwed FL, maybe something to do with the other bush) Hopefully FL voters will get it right in Nov. Obama 2008!
Posted by: pt | Apr 25, 2008 3:29:15 PM
Post a comment
