- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Youngest DNC Superdelegate Backing Obama
February 21, 2008 10:44 AM
ABC News' Karen Travers Reports: Marquette University junior Jason Rae had a personal breakfast with Chelsea Clinton and was wooed on the phone by Bill Clinton and Madeline Albright.
But after seeing the enthusiasm for Barack Obama in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Rae tells ABC News he is supporting the Illinois senator in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
At 21, Rae is the youngest DNC superdelegate, one of the 795 free agents who can back any candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. He has never even voted in a presidential election because he turned 18 after Election Day in 2004.
"As I think about my role as a young DNC member and a young superdelegate, my generation clearly spoke on Tuesday saying Obama was their choice," Rae told ABC News. "I was inspired by him as well. He has inspired a new generation of voters to get active and energized in the political process."
Rae said the line at the polling place on campus at Marquette had a "constant line" from 9am until the polls closed. "I saw more students participating in the process for the first time that I could ever have imagined," he said.
In recent weeks, Rae has become a power broker of sorts, as both campaigns pushed hard to lock down the support of superdelegates. Rae met up with the former first daughter a week before the Wisconsin primary for breakfast at the student union at the University of Milwaukee and had a lengthy conversation on his cell phone with former President Clinton.
Rae was elected as a DNC member at the Wisconsin state party convention in June 2004. He was only 17 years old but there are no party rules that say a DNC member has to be of voting age. Rae ran against and defeated the president of the state firefighters’ union and a state legislator.
While the attention and flurry of activity around the Wisconsin primary was exciting, Rae is eager to get back to his routine as a college student.
"I got a little behind in my school work of late, which is okay, but I think things are going to calm down now," Rae said.
February 21, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (120)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Question? All five of my children are for Obama. All five have cell phones and no landline.
Are the new young voters (mainly for Obama) being polled?
Posted by: JB | Feb 21, 2008 10:56:34 AM
""I got a little behind in my school work of late, which is okay, but I think things are going to calm down now," Rae said."
That's OK. You believe the "big picture" taught by your betters in the University. You vote blindly for Democrats. That's all they want from you, so you'll get an 'A' anyway.
Don't sweat it.
Posted by: Good Lt | Feb 21, 2008 11:02:36 AM
Seriously? You guys are ripping on this guy for his opinion, his right to represent his vote and that he's getting behind in his school work because he believes in a cause unlike half the college students out there who are behind in schoolwork because they're hung over from too much frathouse partying?
Jason, ignore these people. Negative attitudes like this is exactly what got the country to where it is right now. Good for you for taking a stand so early in your life. I wish you continued success!!
Posted by: GirlWIndy | Feb 21, 2008 11:21:40 AM
JB - No most polls do not factor in cell phones, and that has been a factor when the youth vote is widely split. Most primary polls also do not factor in independents. That is why you can see the polls often being way off (more than their stated margin of error) this political season. It's getting harder and harder to determine "random" samples of a possible electorate, so pre-election polls are really more a measure of general sentiment than a reliable barometer.
Posted by: Kevin | Feb 21, 2008 11:23:27 AM
Good judgment Jason, you are brave. You have acted the way your generation are doing. Its your future and the elders must help, if at all they are not greedy and love young generation.
Posted by: Peace | Feb 21, 2008 11:23:32 AM
Careful what you ask for??? In Massachusetts, Deval Patrick ran an identical campaign for Governor and won. After 1 year in office, the shine of the campaign has not lasted. His performance has been sub par at best. People, we are about to elect the POTUS!
Posted by: billy | Feb 21, 2008 11:23:45 AM
McCain on the "Hot Seat", I wonder how it fills.
McCain's best days are behind him.
Obama wins Texas and Ohio
Posted by: Lookup | Feb 21, 2008 11:28:32 AM
The Obama converts another with his uplifting rap of hope and change and future. Hey Jason, can you state anything that Obama stands for and will do as president? If you said bigger government control, higer taxes on the middle class and socialism, you are right. Er Left. Your new emperor wears no clothes. But like a good leftie, you don't care.
Then again, Chelsea really cheaped out on you for breakfast. You should have taken her to Dream Dance.
Posted by: Spectreman | Feb 21, 2008 11:30:46 AM
JB, excellent observation. The polling methodology is obsolete and/or the methodology is biased. That is why polls indicated that Hillary was only 5 points behind Barrack in Wisconsin. Look what the results were. Texas is a near tie, according to the polls. In almost all the Dem primaries the polls have been wrong by anywhere from 10 to 20 points.
Posted by: BooMan | Feb 21, 2008 11:32:13 AM
This is a young kid who understand that our country needs a leader not hypocrite. Good choice Rae!!!
I hope the other super delegates will learn that lesson we the people have made our choice. If they wants us to turn out big in November they better respect our decisions and choices.
Posted by: change | Feb 21, 2008 11:32:18 AM
when did years of experience become so negative. This is fantasyland!
Posted by: billy | Feb 21, 2008 11:34:32 AM
For a six pack and a fun party most young voters will change their vote or not vote at all. Obama is a flash in the pan and a love affair from the Press. He is only a good speech giver with no substance.
Posted by: Superman | Feb 21, 2008 11:41:44 AM
i gotta give this kid credit for not being swindled. i mean breakfast with a first daughter? calls from madeleine albright? that's pretty flattering. and he still has made up his own mind anyway. good for him.
Posted by: emmarose | Feb 21, 2008 11:43:14 AM
"But after seeing the enthusiasm for Barack Obama in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Rae tells ABC News he is supporting the Illinois senator in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination."
So basically this superdelegate is not making an informed opinion, he's just jumping on the bandwagon. We should have all of the primaries on the same day so people can vote from the heart instead of being biased by the preceeding results.
Posted by: angela | Feb 21, 2008 11:46:05 AM
"He is only a good speech giver with no substance."
Yeah, well, it worked for Reagan.
Posted by: Sam | Feb 21, 2008 11:48:18 AM
Right on, Angela! "But after seeing the enthusiasm for Barack Obama in Wisconsin on Tuesday..." LOL That's the main reason why so many young people are voting for Barry. They just wanna look "cool". They wanna be part of the "in" crowd. Barry = The Rock Star..
Posted by: DMK | Feb 21, 2008 11:49:44 AM
Yeah right!
Posted by: Democracy at its Best | Feb 21, 2008 11:50:07 AM
Wait a second!! last week and the week before she denied meeting with superdelagates? Now they are not swayed by her? Did she realy meet them?
Posted by: Jim Rod | Feb 21, 2008 11:51:40 AM
You know, hearing all the Obama detractors out there rant and rave about how we have stars (or worse, spirals) in our eyes for Obama makes me sick.
I'm sorry you don't, or CAN'T, believe in YOUR candidate the way we do. This is our time to get involved and try to make things better. Why do people have to trample on that? Attack the issues, not the supporters who are taking part in the process in record numbers.....even if it is intimidating
Posted by: jenny | Feb 21, 2008 11:53:06 AM
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HILARY SUPPORTERS SAYING THAT OBAMA IS ALL TALK AND NO ACTION. AND THAT SHE HAS MORE EXPIERIENCE THAN HE DOES. WHO HAS BEEN A SENATOR LONGER? AND I DONT SEE HOW YOU CAN COUNT TIME SERVED AS A FIRST LADY AS EXPIERIENCE...WHAT DID SHE ACCOMPLISH AS FIRST LADY...2,000 PIECES OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO HER 20...AND YA'LL DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT....IF YOU WANT A BUILDING NAMED AFTER YOU VOTE FOR HILARY IF YOU WANT A SAFER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE NATION VOTE FOR OBAMA...AND ANOTHER THING..I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING "WHERE IS HE GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS HE IS PROMISING...US OF COURSE" NO @#$% !!!...AND WHERE DO YOU THINK HILARY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE MONEY TO DO THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID SHE WILL DO...YOU AND ME IDIOTS ..IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT YOUR MONEY USED FOR...WAKE UP AND SEE HER FOR WHAT SHE REALLY IS...A WEAK HUMAN BEING THAT DOES NOT REPRRESENT AN AMERICAN WOMAN IN MY EYES
Posted by: chris | Feb 21, 2008 11:55:39 AM
Post a comment



